Changes to a new chaperone rule proposed by the Medical Examining Board (MEB) are not going to be enough to mitigate the more than $55 million economic impact of that rule on Wisconsin physicians and the facilities where they work. That was the message that WHA and the Wisconsin Medical Society delivered to the Medical Examining Board (MEB) in a
joint letter to MEB Chair Sheldon Wasserman.
WHA Senior Vice President of Workforce and Clinical Practice Ann Zenk and Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine shared their concerns in a joint letter to MEB based on their review of a new draft rule posted with the agenda for the MEB’s March meeting. “Upon initial analysis of the new draft language, we do not believe that the changes will significantly reduce the $55 million in annual implementation and compliance costs of the October 20, 2021, rule identified by the Department of Safety and Professional Services,” the joint WHA-WisMed letter stated.
During discussion at the March 16 meeting, Zenk commented on both the economic impact and the workforce impact of the current proposal, noting, “The people we need to fulfill chaperone duties are where we’re experiencing some of the greatest shortages and the greatest competition—entry-level professionals like medical assistants and techs.” Zenk added, “The implementation of this rule will require hiring additional staff, and when those staff can’t be found, will impact patient access and physician workflow.”
WHA and the Medical Society also reiterated in the letter the offer made in WHA’s Nov. 15, 2021, letter (see story in
March 3 edition of The Valued Voice) to work with the Department of Safety and Professional Services and MEB, as well as other stakeholders to help craft a rule that will meet the shared goal of MEB to appropriately identify and discipline physicians with patterns of practice that violate Wisconsin statutes and rules of conduct for Wisconsin physicians.
MEB’s decision, after discussion and consideration of points made by WHA, WisMed and MEB members, was to form a committee of MEB members to work with the Wisconsin Medical Society, WHA and other stakeholders to, as the WHA/WisMed letter notes, “… help aid the Board’s work toward ultimately advancing a revised rule through the rulemaking process.”