From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— Republican lawmakers are circulating legislation that would allow physician assistants and advanced practice nurses to serve as medical advisors to local health officers.
Rep. Rick Gundrum, R-Slinger, and Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevera, R-Appleton, recently sent a co-sponsorship memo to other lawmakers with a deadline of noon tomorrow.
It references 2021 Wisconsin Act 192, which allowed physician assistants, advanced practice nurses or both to be appointed to a local health board “if a good faith effort could not locate” a willing doctor or registered nurse. The lawmakers argue that change was “necessary,” as local boards of health often struggle to find willing doctors or nurses to fill the role.
But nearly three years later, “one issue remains unresolved,” authors wrote. Under state law, only a physician can serve as a medical advisor to the local health officer — physician assistants or advanced practice nurses can’t serve in that role, according to the memo.
Medical advisors serving in this capacity provide consultations, technical help and advice related to diseases, human health hazards and more, according to an overview from the state Department of Health Services.
The bill from Gundrum and Cabral-Guevera is meant to be a trailer bill to the earlier law, enabling PAs or advanced practice nurses to be medical advisors for the local health officer. It would also allow a PA or advanced practice nurse to supervise immunization programs for school districts or local health departments.
“If a county cannot find a willing physician to serve on the board of health, what is the possibility they will find one to serve as the medical advisor? … LRB-0737 provides an important update to State Statute to ensure all local health protocols are executed efficiently and without delay,” authors wrote.
Find the memo here.
— Dr. John Raymond, president and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin, plans to step down from his leadership role in June 2026.
The college today announced the leadership transition, which comes after Raymond has spent more than 14 years leading MCW. He plans to remain a part of the college’s faculty after stepping down.
“My years of leadership at MCW have given me tremendous fulfillment, and I am deeply grateful for the trust, support, and collaboration that I have enjoyed throughout my tenure here,” he said in a statement.
The MCW Board of Trustees plans to start searching for Raymond’s successor in the coming months.
See the release below.
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