Over the next several issues of The Valued Voice, WHA staff will take a closer look at each of the Association’s five standing councils. This week, we feature the Council on Public Policy.

Meeting three times per year, the Council on Public Policy is WHA ‘s largest council, drawing nearly 30 hospital leaders from across the state to each of its meetings. Agendas are always packed with the latest and most pressing policy items facing hospitals in both the state Capitol and Washington, DC. Council members, tapped for their knowledge of hospital operations and interest in advocacy, are encouraged to provide input at the meetings and help direct WHA’s position and strategy under the Capitol dome.

The Public Policy Council also provides a unique opportunity for hospital leaders to interact face-to-face with some of the state’s top politicians. Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, DHFS Secretary Kevin Hayden, Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair Rep. Kitty Rhoades and Senate Health Committee Chair Sen. Jon Erpenbach are just a few of the state’s political and policy leaders who have recently taken time to appear before the group.

"It really is an honor to chair this key WHA council," said David Olson, CEO of Bay Area Medical Center in Marinette and current chair of the Public Policy Council. "Not only do members get the latest insights into the State Capitol, the state courts and state agencies from WHA’s knowledgeable team, but we also hear directly from, and react to, the policy makers themselves. It’s a fantastic opportunity to really help shape health care policy in Wisconsin."

Olson has chaired the Council since 2005 and will continue in 2008.

While the Council focuses on many of the headline grabbing issues, it’s also a venue where less notable, yet still very important, topics are thoroughly vetted. Issues ranging from the proposed hospital assessment to amicus briefs in Supreme Court cases to granting admitting privileges to nurse midwives are examples of the topical breadth found on the Council’s 2007 agenda.

With the 2007-08 legislative session nearing a close, the Council will shift focus slightly in 2008.

"Election years are always an interesting time for this Council," said WHA Executive Vice President Eric Borgerding, who serves as the primary staff to the Council. "We focus a little more on the elections and politics as well as planning for the upcoming 2009-10 legislative session. There’s never a dearth of agenda items, in fact we usually have a few too many."

For more information about the Public Policy Council, contact Eric Borgerding or Paul Merline at 608-274-1820.

The third annual "Physician Leadership Development Conference," for both new and potential physician leaders, will be offered by WHA Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, 2008. This year’s conference will be held at the Midwest’s only AAA Five Diamond Resort Hotel, The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin. The full conference brochure with agenda, registration and resort information is included in this week’s packet.

This popular conference offers nationally recognized, CME-qualifying education necessary to develop physicians’ leadership skills and make the transition from clinician to physician leader at both a reasonable price and with more limited travel time and expense than the national conferences.

Each year, the conference agenda is set based on feedback from past attendees, as well as from chief medical officers, medical directors and CEOs from around the state. The 2008 conference agenda will focus on health care finance and the principles of negotiation presented by faculty from the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE). These are new and different topics than at past events, but were chosen based on member and attendee feedback. Those who attended in the past are encouraged to continue their education as a physician leader, and those who may be attending for the first time will find it invaluable as well.

Any physicians new to their leadership roles or who have leadership/management interest or potential should plan to attend this conference. In addition, chiefs of staff, medical directors, chief medical officers, new medical presidents, new clinical department chairs, and new committee chairs are encouraged to attend or designate a physician with leadership potential to attend, as part of your organization’s succession planning.

One of the most interesting observations, both formally via the attendee evaluations and anecdotes from those in attendance, from the past conferences was the value of attending the conference as a team – physician leader and management leader – allowing for valuable informal, one-on-one conversation during the one-and-a-half day event. This opportunity will once again be available at the 2008 conference.

A discounted "early bird" registration fee is available to those registering by January 18, as well as a group discount to those registering early. Additionally, a "host" registration option, which includes all meals, is available to those hospital representatives/management leaders who would like to accompany their attending physicians to the conference but do not need the CME credit.

ACPE is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians. ACPE designates this educational activity for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.TM Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Additionally, these programs are part of the ACPE and CCMM requirements toward a graduate degree or certification in medical management.

First of all, I’d like to thank Bob Fale for his terrific effort this past year. WHA has been blessed over the years with having an outstanding governing board and chairs that have made the Association an important priority during their year of service. Bob served as WHA Chair during a most challenging year and has been the type of leader that has made this Association such an effective and unified advocate on behalf of our members. I look forward to working closely with Bob, the entire Board, and all of you this year.

Here are a few thoughts on my issue priorities for the New Year, recognizing that when it comes to legislation, the Wisconsin Legislature will be in session for just a few days in 2008. Hence, much of our effort will be aimed at setting the stage for success in 2009, with desired outcomes that in several instances will be tied to the 2009-11 WI Budget.

• Medicaid must continue to be WHA’s number one advocacy priority. We must work hard to sell our Medicaid agenda to a public policy audience that has historically failed to support adequate provider payment as a "must do." Our message must be framed around two themes: 1) reducing the "hidden tax" created by cost shifting losses from public programs, and 2) reducing the financial burden that our "safety net" hospitals face with their ongoing efforts to provide access to our most vulnerable patients.

• Health Care Reform will certainly be a 2008 WHA priority. The November elections guarantee that debate and discussion of state and national initiatives will be visible and constant throughout the year. Because of the fine work of the Association’s Task Force on Access and Coverage, we are already armed with a road map describing how reform initiatives should be framed in order to gain WHA’s enthusiastic support. We also must coalesce with likeminded organizations to advance workable proposals while challenging initiatives that fail our reform principles.

• Community Benefit Reporting will be in its third year and continues to be a vehicle for Wisconsin’s hospitals to showcase how we are "living our missions" by providing significant support that improves the health of our communities. But beyond the numbers, I believe the greatest value of reporting is realized when we share the individual stories that describe the real human impact that our commitment engenders. This must be a constant WHA priority in 2008.

• Mobilizing support to pass the Quality Improvement Act must be a WHA priority this year. While Wisconsin is a recognized national leader when it comes to our commitment to measure and report our performance, we have become somewhat of a laggard when it comes to necessary peer review statutory protections that surrounding states have adopted over the past few years. We must correct that deficiency in order to advance our larger commitment to transparency.

• Physician workforce issues will continue to be a top WHA program priority in 2008. The recruitment and retention of physicians who partner in caring for our patients in a central issue for all of us. Wisconsin must be viewed (as it once was) as a state that welcomes physicians with a sensible tort environment that protects injured patients and their families while avoiding a culture that encourages unnecessary litigation. To accomplish this objective, we need to preserve our current non-economic damage award caps and convince lawmakers that the IPFCF is not a slush fund to be tapped to finance state spending.

I look forward to working with all of you and with WHA’s able staff to accomplish these important goals.

Want to learn more about a specific topic, but not thrilled about the idea of traveling during the snowy months of January and February? Need to educate several members of your staff but the budget is tight? Then one of the many audioconferences offered by WHA in early 2008 may be for you. A variety of topics are now available, with more to come. In addition, you can gather numerous staff members in one room to "attend" for one economical price. Prior to the event, you will receive dial-in information and supporting materials, which you can then distribute to all of your participants.

Robert J. Van Meeteren assumed his duties as president of Reedsburg Area Medical Center effective January 1. Van Meeteren most recently served as administrator/CEO at Sleepy Eye Medical Center in Minnesota. Prior to that, he was clinic administrator at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota.

Van Meeteren was active in the Minnesota Hospital Association where he served on the Board of Directors and the Small and Rural Hospital Committee from 2005 until his move to Reedsburg. He received both his MBA and bachelor’s degrees in Health Services Administration from the University of South Dakota.

Many Waukesha Family Practice Center patients struggle with a variety of financial constraints, often having to choose between paying their rent, buying food or paying for their medications. Without their medications, many find it difficult to continue working and meeting the daily needs of their families.

Many drug companies offer medications at a reduced cost or even free, but the process to apply can be very complicated. To help address this need, the Waukesha Family Practice Center developed a Patient Assistance Program. The program is presently assisting 182 patients acquire 448 medications that would be out of their reach without this program; 31 percent are diabetic and 19 percent are being medicated for high cholesterol. A typical high cholesterol medication could cost a patient more than $1,000 annually. The program processes paperwork for more than 20 different pharmaceutical companies on more than 90 different brand name and generic medications. In 2006, the program provided more than $334,000 worth of medications to our patients in need.

Providing medications for the underserved in the community often helps to stabilize or improve their medical condition. This is a tremendous benefit to the patient’s physical and mental well being and also helps them be more productive. Receiving their medications consistently at little or no cost can also result in fewer clinic visits, emergency room visits, and hospital stays.

The Waukesha Family Practice Center provides treatment to patients on a sliding scale, according to their ability to pay. The program is a partnership between Waukesha Memorial Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

"I was so thrilled to receive the Foundation award," said Shannon Loberger. "I plan to use the money for books in the fall when I attend Winona State University where I will study nursing." The Foundation presents six $500 awards per year to high school seniors and students already in school who are pursing careers in health care fields.

St. Croix Regional Medical Center (SCRMC) also now provides twenty $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors from 14 schools (including the Home School Association) in the Medical Center’s Minnesota and Wisconsin service area. Each school involved awards the scholarships through its own selection process. To be eligible, the high school senior has to be planning to enter a health care profession, preferably one involving direct patient care.

"This money became available thanks to the work of our Chief Financial Officer John Tremble, through a health care scholarship grant he recently wrote," explained Sandy Williams, SCRMC director of development, marketing, and education. "The money in the grant was contributed by US Bank, Cardinal Health, and Blue Cross Wisconsin."

Guidance counselors in participating schools were notified of this scholarship fund immediately after the Medical Center learned that it had received the grant money in mid April. The schools awarded the scholarships at their awards nights or graduation ceremonies. "Students were notified by letter that they had been awarded a scholarship," said Williams.