WASHTENAW COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
Legislative action & community outreach since 1827
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Our COVID-19 Note
In the face of this pandemic, please lean on WCMS and know that you are not alone. We are committed to serving you and continue to advocate for your professional needs with decision makers around-the-clock. Thank you for all that you do.
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COVID-19 Statistics (County, State, Nation, World) and Highlights from Washtenaw County Health Dept.
Summary as of Wednesday, May 20:
- Governor Whitmer's “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order is in place through May 28.
- Washtenaw County COVID-19 Case Statistics
- Confirmed & Probable Cases - 1,496
- Total Deaths - 93
- State of Michigan COVID-19 Case Statistics
- Confirmed Cases - 53,009
- Total Deaths - 5,060
- U.S. COVID-19 Case Statistics
- Confirmed Cases -1,528,235
- Total Deaths - 91,664
- International COVID-19 Case Statistics and Mortality Analysis by Country
- Confirmed Cases - 4,801,202
- Total Deaths - 318,935
- Health care information, options, and coverage is available through the Washtenaw Health Plan through a Special Enrollment Period, COBRA and Medicaid or MIChild. Call the Washtenaw Health Plan at 734-544-6778 or email whp@washtenaw.org.
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COVID-19 Advocacy Principles
WCMS supports four principles related to COVID-19 physician advocacy with lawmakers:
- physician judgement,
- practice assistance,
- protection and immunity, and
- hazard pay and loan forgiveness.
These COVID-19 issues, along with prior authorization, surprise billing, and auto no-fault reform, were discussed at WCMS' Legislative Committee meeting on Monday, May 18. The Committee was joined by the offices of Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, State Senator Jeff Irwin, and State Reps. Donna Lasinski, Ronnie Peterson, Yousef Rabhi, and Rebekah Warren. To access a recording of the meeting, please
click here
.
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Washtenaw Health Initiative's COVID-19 Directory of Directories
Washtenaw residents are encouraged to review the Washtenaw Health Initiative's "Directory of Directories" for assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The directory highlights items including:
- COVID-19 Screening and Testing
- Financial Assistance
- Mental Health
- Senior Services
- Substance Abuse, and more.
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Take Action: Ask Your Legislators to Support S. B. 899, COVID-19 Immunity Protections
Click here
to ask your legislators to support S.B. 899. The legislation ensures that physicians and other health care providers responding to the coronavirus pandemic are provided immunity protections while working through these extremely challenging and nearly unprecedented times.
It's long been public policy to provide immunity to health care providers working to deliver health care during disasters and states of emergency. S.B. 899 establishes and codifies that policy specific to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Register for Upcoming Tele-Town Hall Series
New Employment Policies for Practices
Thursday, May 21, 12:00 PM
Speaker: Jodi Schafer, SPHR, SHRM-SC
Race Inequalities and COVID-19: Contagion, Severity, and Social Systems
Thursday, May 28, 2020, 12:00 PM
Speaker: Jason Adam Wasserman, PhD, Associate Professor, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Tuesday, June 2, 2020, 12:00 PM
Speakers: Sarah Jennings, CPA, CFE, CAE and Dennis Theis, CPA, CVGA
Questions can be submitted during the Town Hall or in advance at
rblake@msms.org
. MSMS will continue to host these weekly Town Halls for the next few months. Send ideas for future topics to
belliott@msms.org
.
For a full calendar of events, please
click here
.
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PPE Website for Michigan's Physician Practices
Once the practice identifies their need and quantity, information is shared with Foresight Group, who will then identify the best rate and delivery times available, confirm need with the practice, collect payment information, and place the order, which will then ship directly to the practice.
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COVID-19 Helplines for Physicians
Psychoanalysts and psychotherapists affiliated with the
Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute and Society
have begun an initiative to provide emotional support and assistance to frontline health care workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. During the months of April, May and June, experienced clinicians will offer up to 5 free virtual sessions to any staff member involved in, or affected by, the coronavirus pandemic. To make a private, confidential appointment or to
get more information
, please call 734-677-1590. We will return calls within 24 hours to set up a first virtual appointment.
The
Physician Support Line
is a nation-wide service available for US physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The line offers free and confidential peer support telehealth by volunteer psychiatrists. The line is available without appointment from 8:00 AM - 12:00 AM, 7 days a week. To start, call (888) 409-0141. For more information, follow
this link
.
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*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.
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The WCMS Office is closed for unscheduled business through Thursday, May 28. Virtual meetings will be scheduled when appropriate. To set up an appointment, or for questions, please contact the
Society Office via email
or call (734) 668-6241.
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STAY CONNECTED WITH US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
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