As the integration of dental care and healthcare steams ahead, access remains an issue for many low-income and special needs populations. A Wisconsin Health News panel will examine what’s being done to address the challenge, as well as the implications of unmet oral health needs.

Confirmed Panelists (additional panelists to be announced soon):

• ·         Matt Crespin, Associate Director, Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin
• ·         Dr Monica Hebl, Wisconsin Dental Association
• ·         Greg Nycz, Executive Director, Family Health Center of Marshfield
• ·         Laura Rose, Vice President of Policy Development, Wisconsin Hospital Association

Register now (link).

Heifetz to resign as Medicaid director

December 6, Wisconsin Health News

The Department of Health Services has accepted the resignation of Medicaid Director Michael Heifetz, who is leaving for the private sector, according to a Tuesday statement.

Heifetz, who also serves as administrator of the Division of Medicaid Services, will leave the department Dec. 13. Deputy Administrator Casey Himebauch will serve as the division's interim leader.

“Michael has been invaluable in his role as Medicaid director, representing Wisconsin’s vision for the future in the national spotlight,” DHS Secretary Linda Seemeyer said in a statement. “We will greatly miss his leadership and insight, as well as his candor and energy.”

A DHS spokeswoman said that Heifetz is "pursuing career opportunities" in the private sector. She did not respond to a question asking for more specifics.

Heifetz joined the department as Medicaid director in September of last year. He previously served as state budget director. Before that, he was vice president of governmental affairs at Dean Clinic and SSM Health of Wisconsin.

Heifetz has also left his position on the Group Insurance Board and was replaced by State Budget Director Waylon Hurlburt in October.

State Legislative Update

• For most states, the 2017 legislative session has concluded. 2018 sessions start in January/February.
• The number of states that have adopted the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact stands at 22. 2 states currently have active legislation. The compact offers an expedited licensing process for physicians interested in practicing medicine across state lines.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss how to improve your advocacy efforts, contact Grant Niver.

Federal Legislative Update 

• Congress has several issues to address before the end of the year including funding the government, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) reauthorization, and access to telestroke. The AAN sent an action alert to urge members of Congress to pass this legislation as soon as possible, please respond if you haven’t already.
• AAN member and child neurologist Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, MD, was elected to be the next governor of Virginia. Northam has been an AAN member since 1990 and will soon serve in the highest elected office ever held by a neurologist.
• The AAN participated in the American Medical Association’s 2017 Interim Meeting of the House of Delegates. Resolutions covered a number of topics important to neurology including the Quality Payment Program (QPP), drug pricing, physician burnout, reimbursement, medical marijuana, electronic health records, and opioids.

Stay up-to-date on #AANAdvocacy by reading the Capitol Hill Report and following the AAN’s Senior Legislative Counsel Mike Amery on Twitter at @MikeAmeryDC.

Medical Economics Update

• The 2017 Neurology Compensation and Productivity report and interactive dashboard is now available! It is free to members who participated in the most recent survey and a small fee for those who did not participate. Find it in the AAN Store.
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) published the 2018 final Medicare physician fee schedule in early November. In the rule CMS reduced penalties and reporting requirements for several Medicare Programs. Learn more about the impact on Neurology and view final 2018 Medicare values.

For more information on AAN practice resources, visit our webpage

AAN Membership Update

• A new regional conference is scheduled for January 13 through 15, 2018, concurrent with the Breakthroughs in Neurology Conference in Orlando, FL. Career Essentials Conference: Foundation for Your Future is geared toward early career neurologists who are three to five years’ post-residency.
• Be sure to join the Consortium of Neurology Advanced Practice Providers on Synapse, and share with your APP colleagues. Ask questions of APPs, network, and share resources.
• The AAN Advanced Practice Provider Scholarship is now open.  The AAN will be awarding two $2000 scholarships to help fund APP participation at the Annual Meeting.  If you are interested in nominating an APP or applying yourself, please click here for more information. 
• The new Career Essentials Conference for early career members is now open for registration. The conference is designed for members no more than five years post-residency to learn the business, financial planning, and other skills that are not covered in residency. Spread the word about this family-friendly conference to be held in Orlando, FL, January 13–15, co-located with the Breakthroughs in Neurology conference.
• Registration is also open for the 2018 AAN Breakthroughs in Neurology Conference, January 12-15, 2018, at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, FL. The conference provides an opportunity to gain a year-in-review of the best neurology science and education in one convenient weekend.

Quality and Guidelines Update

• Comment on the universal neurology quality measurement set in November. 12 quality measures designed to improve care for patients with neurological disorders. Your comments will help improve feasibility prior to their finalization.
• Check this page in November for several guidelines that will be posting for public comment.
• The Axon Registry is a Qualified Clinical Data Registry that gives providers the opportunity to satisfy three of the MIPS requirements. If you haven’t done so already, get your name on the wait list today to participate in 2018!
• Read the new AAN practice guideline “Cervical and Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential Testing” and access the clinician summary and patient summary.

Neuro Summit 2018 respects all the scholastic and business specialists working in the field of Neurology and Neuroscience to World Summit on Neurology and Neuroscience which will be occurring in Montreal, Canada amid September 26-27, 2018.
We welcome you to oblige us at the Neuro Summit 2018, where you will make a point to have a fundamental relationship with investigators from around the globe. All individuals from the Neuro Summit 2018 managing board imagine meeting you in Montreal, Canada.

World summit on Neurology and Neuroscience is a unique social occasion to join general perceived scholastics and specialists working in the diverse fields of neurology and neuroscience sciences, scientist wearing down mind investigators, analysts, educational analysts, prosperity specialists, pharmaceutical association’s delegates, industry masters, specialists and various more to regularly exchange the investigation and headways.
Purpose of this social affair is engage new musings for treatment that will be productive over the scope of Neurology.
World summit on Neurology and Neuroscience, symposiums, workshops et cetera will give a conferred stage to the change, execution and exchange of information about Neuroscience and its related branches.        

For more details please visit https://neurosummit.neurologyconference.com/                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Other Reason
Get-together of world class experts and developing capacity from over the globe.
Exhibit yours investigation and get world affirmation.
Profit chances to associate with unimaginably well-known analysts.
Flawlessly sketched out schedule: Workshop, Expo districts, gatherings to create new thoughts and some more.
Stage to facilitate with related basic care clinicians.
Instructive workshops on investigation and treatment of neurological diseases."

Deputy Insurance Commissioner J.P. Wieske will outline what a Wisconsin version of the Affordable Care Act could look like at a Dec. 13 Newsmaker Event.

Wieske announced this fall the state is considering applying for a 1332 waiver from the law, which allows states to develop unique solutions for providing affordable healthcare coverage. Wieske will discuss the state’s next steps, as well as provide an update on open enrollment and the current insurance market.

Wieske has served as the state's deputy insurance commissioner since 2016. Before that he was the department's legislative liaison and public information officer for five years. He previously served as the executive director of the Council of Affordable Health Insurance.

Register now (link).

Society Selects New CEO

November 3, WMS Medigram

The Wisconsin Medical Society Board of Directors has named Clyde “Bud” Chumbley, MD, MBA, chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Medical Society.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to serve as the next CEO of the Wisconsin Medical Society; I consider it a tremendous honor,” said Dr. Chumbley, who will begin on November 27. “Having been a Society member for 37 years, I’m a firm believer in its mission to advance the health of the people of Wisconsin by ensuring access to high-quality, cost-efficient care. And I look forward to drawing on my experience to further strengthen the Society so we can continue to make a difference for our patients and our profession.”

In addition to caring for patients as a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist throughout his 36-year medical career, Dr. Chumbley has held numerous leadership and management positions, including serving nearly 20 years as president and CEO of a large, independent multi-specialty medical group practice. He currently serves as chief medical adviser for Wisconsin Medical Society Holdings and as chief medical officer for the Wisconsin Medical Society Holdings Association Health Plan.

Past leadership roles in Wisconsin include serving as chief medical officer/chief clinical integration officer for Aspirus Health and president of Aspirus Clinics, and as president and CEO of ProHealth Care Medical Associates. He also has served on the board of directors and as past chair and treasurer for the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality. In Texas, he served as chief medical officer for Scott & White Healthcare in the Austin region.  

Doctor Chumbley is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Medicine and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and holds medical licenses in Wisconsin and Texas.

“We were fortunate to have a number of highly qualified candidates interested in this position,” said Jerry Halverson, MD, chair of the Society’s Board of Directors and co-chair of the search committee. “Doctor Chumbley is an excellent advocate for physicians and the patients we serve, and with his extensive administrative experience and medical expertise, we believe he is an outstanding choice to lead the Society. We look forward to all we can accomplish under his leadership.”

Doctor Chumbley is the eighth Society CEO in its 176-year history. Susan L. Turney, MD, MS, FACMPE, FACP, was the first physician to hold the position from 2004 to 2011.

Wisconsin Neurological Society Announces Francis M. Forster Research Awards

The Wisconsin Neurological Society honors a long-standing tradition of recognizing resident research by holding an annual competition for the Francis M. Forster Research Award.

The award is named for Francis M. Forster, MD, one of the founders of the American Academy of Neurology. He was considered an internationally-recognized expert in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and a prominent neurologist. Doctor Forster served as Chairman of the Departments of Neurology at Georgetown University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and proudly mentored and trained residents throughout his career.

We'd like to congratulate Drs. Gregory Rozansky, Thanjuaa Subramaniam, and this year's winner Dr. Sadhana Murali for their outstanding work in the field of neurology.

Wisconsin Neurological Society - Francis M. Forster Research Award

The Wisconsin Neurological Society honors a long-standing tradition of recognizing resident research by holding an annual competition for the Francis M. Forster Research Award.

The award is named for Francis M. Forster, MD, one of the founders of the American Academy of Neurology. He was considered an internationally-recognized expert in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and a prominent neurologist. Doctor Forster served as Chairman of the Departments of Neurology at Georgetown University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and proudly mentored and trained residents throughout his career.

Program Directors from the Neurology Residency Programs at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin-Madison each identify two residents with outstanding research abstracts to compete for the annual Award. In the selection process, priority is given to true research projects, although high quality and comprehensive case presentations may also be considered.

Residents who have been selected for the competition each submit their abstracts and are invited to present their research at the WNS Annual Meeting. After all presentations are complete, one winner is selected by a vote of all non-resident conference attendees and presented with the annual Francis M. Forster Research Award. 

October 27-28, 2017 
Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, WI

The 2017 conference will include presentations on:

• DSPS Required Opioid Education
• EMG Vignettes
• Stroke/Neurocritical Care:  Overview and Special Topics
• Epilepsy Monitoring:  Uses and Current Research
• Summary of the ABPN MOC Program
• A Collaborative Approach to Addressing Sleep and Cognition
  

Click here to view the full flyer, or REGISTER TODAY! 

Vendor Prospectus Available - Please share with organizations that may be interested!

LOCATION & LODGING - Deadline Approaching!

Rooms are available at the Osthoff Resort at the special group rate of $129 for one bedroom suites. To guarantee this rate, and to ensure a room will be available, reservations must be made by September 22, 2017.

To make your reservation, please call 800-876-3399 and press prompt #1, state that you are with WI Neurological Society.

For driving directions please visit: www.osthoff.com/directions

Questions?
If you have any questions regarding the WNS Annual Conference, please contact the WNS office at 920-560-5622 or email WNS@badgerbay.co.

Apply for the Bennett Hiner Research Award-Deadline EXTENDED to August 31

The Wisconsin Neurological Society is still accepting applications for the Bennett Hiner Research Award with an EXTENDED deadline of August 31.  The Award is presenting to a medical student enrolled at one of the state’s medical schools in recognition for extra-ordinary service, leadership and research in the neurosciences. Please share with your colleagues this important award!

This award is in memory of Bennett Hiner, son of long time Society member Dr. Bradley Hiner.  Bennett passed away unexpectedly in November 2011. He was an enthusiastic and accomplished young man who was a leader in his medical school class at the University of Southern California and actively involved in neuroscience research.

Qualified applicants are medical students who must be enrolled at either the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, or the Medical College of Wisconsin; have completed neuroscience research within two (2) years of application for this award; have demonstrated leadership experience while enrolled in medical school; and have submitted the application and research abstract.  An application form is available by clicking here.