WASHTENAW COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
Legislative action & community outreach since 1827
The WCMS E-Newsletter is a bimonthly publication highlighting major medical, public health, and community issues affecting physician and medical student leaders in Washtenaw County. Distribution occurs every other Thursday and is a unique benefit of WCMS membership. Past editions are available on the WCMS website.
COVID-19 statistics as of Wednesday, November 25:

Looking for COVID-19 testing sites in Washtenaw County? Follow this link.
Health Department Survey on COVID-19 Vaccination for Healthcare Workers
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS IMPORTANT SURVEY BY DECEMBER 4

The Washtenaw County Health Department is planning for the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine. There are many unanswered questions regarding timing and number of doses that will be made available. However, we do know that the first phase (Phase 1) priority group will encompass paid and unpaid healthcare workers. This includes the clinical and patient-care staff at your organizations.

To help us understand the number of staff that may be eligible for the phase 1 priority group, we are asking that you fill out this short survey with an estimate of current staffing levels. The focus of the survey is on independent practices who don’t already have plans for vaccination of staff through a larger organization like Michigan Medicine, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, or IHA.

Please complete the survey before Friday, December 4. It should not take longer than 5-10 minutes.
WCMS COVID-19 Workgroup: Thursday, Dec. 3 at 6:00 PM

Since March, WCMS has convened regular COVID-19 teleconferences to discuss resource allocation, emergency preparedness, and tracking and tracing among Washtenaw's health systems and physician leaders. The workgroup is led by University of Michigan infectious diseases specialist and WCMS Executive Council member Sandro Cinti, MD. The workgroup also receives updates and modeling data from UM Public Health epidemiologists. To access recordings and resources from past meetings, please follow this link.

WCMS members are encouraged to join the next virtual meeting on Thursday, December 3 from 6:00-7:00 PM. Please contact the Society Office for login credentials.
Free E/M Coding Update for 2021: Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 8:30 AM

WCMS members are invited to learn about the 2021 E/M guidelines for office and other outpatient service codes 99202-99215. Speaker Betsy Nicoletti, MS, CPC will provide a virtual, high-level overview on Tuesday, December 8 from 8:30-9:45 AM.

This virtual event is being hosted by sister county, the Oakland County Medical Society (OCMS). All WCMS members are invited free of charge with registration here. Attendees may submit questions in advance.
Resources from "COVID-19 and Public Health" General Session with the Washtenaw County Health Department

On November 17, WCMS members attended the November membership event entitled "COVID-19 and Public Health" with representatives from the Washtenaw County Health Department, Jimena Loveluck, MSW and Juan Marquez, MD, MPH. 

To access a recording of the session or to view the presentation slides, please follow this link.
Prior Authorization and Step Therapy Reform Legislative Alert: Take Action on Senate Bill 612

Prior authorization and step therapy requirements hamstring treatment, drive up non-adherence to medication, and lead to diminished health. These bureaucratic and onerous practices negatively affect patients, physicians, providers, and practices. Lawmakers are considering S.B. 612, the MSMS and WCMS backed bill that reforms these measures by introducing transparency, fairness, and clinical validity requirements. 

Ask your legislators to support the S.B. 612, the Health Can't Wait legislation, by clicking here.
Renew Your WCMS/MSMS Membership for 2021

WCMS and MSMS are here to help you survive medical school, navigate residency, and start your career. We are proud to fight for you and your patients in the legislative and political process and keep you connected to your colleagues in the community and across the state. Our tools and resources are available to you around the clock.

Renew your 2021 dues by November 30 to receive a $100 MSMS CME Credit!

Click here to renew electronically, or call the MSMS Membership Department directly: (517) 336-5716.
Providing Quality Care in the Last Decade of Life Course: Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7:45 AM
Community Voice: Ascension St. John Hospital

Register to attend the virtual "Providing Quality Care in the Last Decade of Life" Zoom course presented by the Department of Family Medicine sponsored by the Continuing Medical Education of Ascension St. John Hospital, Detroit.

Program objectives:
  • increase conversations about advance care planning between patients and clinicians;
  • decrease polypharmacy and unnecessary medications in elderly and patients at the end of life;
  • increase patient and clinician satisfaction in end of life care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please register online at: ascension-mi.regfox.com/providing-quality-care. Once you have registered, you will receive a Zoom link to the Webinar.
*Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of members, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Washtenaw County Medical Society.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF WCMS!
The Washtenaw County Medical Society has been the leading physician medical association for legislative action and community outreach since 1827. WCMS collaborates with the Michigan State Medical Society to optimize patient, physician, and community well-being through professional support; public health activism; and advocacy for excellence in patient care.