Among medically related proposals is a bill that seeks to control the practice of telemedicine. SMS Board Report C. Chou, MD and G. Govin, MD SMS needs to deal with a budget deficit. Staff cuts could follow the downsizing of committees, commissions and task forces. Print publications could also be scaled back further. The SMS Board agrees on the importance of the Medical Outcomes Research Project.
Research is under way on a low back pain project.
Public Health S. Foldy, MD The Board agreed to send a letter to the Wisconsin Division of Health commenting on the restructuring of the mechanism used to fund local health departments. The new process streamlines the administrative work needed to distribute federal monies to local health departments. The Board agreed with the Public Health Committee which noted the new process may result in the unintended curtailment of public health services offered in the state s larger municipal areas. The Board will recommend the DOH administrator seek additional revenue to increase dollars flowing to rural areas and maintain programs that could be de-funded in the state s larger municipalities. The Board will urge the Milwaukee Caucus to the Wisconsin Legislature to find such funding from General Purpose Revenues and the tobacco settlement.