Brad Burmeister, MD, FACEP
WACEP President

Welcome to 2021!

We are off to a great start! This is my first message as the new President, so "hello" to those of you I do not know. Just a bit about me... I work for an independent group in Green Bay which staffs Bellin Hospital.

Before we get to some updates, I want to thank our now Immediate Past President Ryan Thompson, MD, FACEP for all the important work he has done. I’m particularly thankful for his leadership along with our legislative committee and the lobbying team (HWZ) for their hard work on the WI CARES act, efforts on Surprise/Balance Billing at the state level, and ongoing work on Medicaid Reimbursement. I think we are in a great spot moving forward and have some excellent ground work accomplished.

On that note, the legislative team at ACEP has been very busy ensuring the voice of the Emergency Physicians are heard across the country. As a result, we have many favorable outcomes with the “2020 Year End Package” which Congress passed. In particular we have reasonable legislation on Surprise/Balanced Billing as well as better outcomes with Medicare cuts that what had been pending.

WACEP has been working on our own Surprise/Balanced Billing battles at the state level, ongoing efforts for Medicaid reimbursement increases, extending liability protections due to COVID-19, among many other things!

If you haven’t already checked out our virtual Spring Symposium please do so. It will be held Thursday, April 8th, so coming up quickly! We have some great speakers including Dr. David Talan with some insights into infectious disease and Emergency medicine, education on Buprenorphine (Suboxone) and Dexmedetomidine (Precedex), an ATLS update, and an update from Dr. Ryan Westergaard (“The Dr. Fauci of Wisconsin”).  Learn more and register!

If you have any questions or issues you want us to look at, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please follow us on Facebook! @WiACEP

Stay safe!
Brad Burmeister, MD, FACEP