News

From cms.gov — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), through its Health Tech Ecosystem, is advancing its electronic prior authorization efforts to address key challenges and drive solutions ahead of 2027 requirements. Froedtert ThedaCare is an early adopter in this next phase of CMS’ broader effort to modernize health care.

From WPR — Recognizing the warning signs of a loved one having a stroke and summoning help quickly is crucial. Diane Book. MD, Froedtert & MCW neurologist, joined the Larry Meiller Show to talk about strokes — preventing them, recognizing the signs and treatment.

From the Herald Times Reporter — The Froedtert & MCW Cancer Network and Forefront Dermatology will offer no-cost skin cancer screenings at the Manitowoc Public Library on Wednesday, May 20. The screenings are for adults 18 and older from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Screenings take about 15 minutes; participants may receive referrals if areas need follow-up. Skin-protection education and a skin-care kit (while supplies last) will be available.

From The Cap Times — Matt Cooper, MD, chief of transplantation and director of solid organ transplant at Froedtert Hospital, talked about the decrease in the number of people signing up to be organ donors.

From CBS 58 — Mary Beth Graham, MD, medical director of infection prevention and control at Froedtert Hospital, told CBS 58 that a possible case of hantavirus in Illinois isn't all that unusual — the U.S. sees a few hundred cases every year. There are more than 20 different strains. Dr. Graham says the case in Illinois doesn't seem to be the Andes strain, which can be spread from person to person, as identified on the Dutch cruise ship.

From WisBusiness — Froedtert ThedaCare leaders are pleased to announce Seraphine Kapsandoy-Jones, PhD, RN, as the chief nursing executive and senior vice president for the health care system. In this role, Kapsandoy-Jones will serve as the senior-most nursing executive at Froedtert ThedaCare. She will drive systemwide alignment of clinical practices, foster a culture of collaboration and innovation and ensure accountability for nursing excellence. This was also covered by Becker's Payer Issues. 

From Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service — Get blood pressure and glucose checks and health care assessments from the Froedtert & MCW health network at Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., from noon to 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 14.

From Radio Milwaukee — For more than five years, Gee’s Wellness Clinic has offered free screenings to anyone who comes in. Through partnerships with Network Health and Froedtert & MCW health network, health professionals at the pop-up check blood pressure, give general nutrition and health advice, and connect clients to resources.

From the Sheboygan Sun — A slip, fall, sports injury or even simple yard work can lead to a sprain, fracture or other orthopaedic injury. Aleem Bakhtiar, MD, medical director of the Holy Family Memorial Hospital Emergency Department, talks about options for same-day care specifically for bone, joint or muscle pain available in the Sheboygan and Manitowoc areas through the Froedtert & MCW health network at two Ortho Now locations.

From the Sheboygan Sun — Progress Lakeshore held its 15th Annual Excellence in Economic Development Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, May 5, at The Venue at Union Square in Manitowoc. Awards included the Community Enhancement Award, sponsored by Froedtert Holy Family Memorial Hospital. The award recognizes organizations whose projects and initiatives make Manitowoc County a more attractive place to live and work. This year’s award honors the Wisconsin Maritime Museum for its far‐reaching impact on education, heritage preservation, and cultural and economic vitality.

From MKE Lifestyle — On a snowy Friday morning in mid-January, a group of Froedtert & MCW volunteers helped Bernie’s Book Bank’s Milwaukee chapter hand out bags of books to students at Byron Kilbourn Elementary on Milwaukee’s northwest side. Bernie’s Book Bank's mission with the Byron Kilbourn Elementary students and thousands of others is to ensure each kid has a library of 96 books to call their own, share with siblings, and trade with friends.

From WTMJ 4 — Karen Blindauer, MD, a Froedtert & MCW neurologist, joined the Morning Blend to discuss Parkinson’s disease and raise awareness about Moving Day, taking place May 16, at Hart Park in Wauwatosa. Hosted by the Parkinson’s Foundation, this annual event brings together people affected by Parkinson’s disease to connect, learn and support one another. For more information, visit movingdaywalk.org.

From WFRV — Tom Zalaski was joined by Local 5’s own Shaun Kornusky to talk about the importance of organ donation. Shaun Kornusky, had a heart transplant at Froedtert Hospital in June 2024. Just a few weeks ago, Shaun finally got to meet the family of his donor.

From WPR — While she was a student at Carmen Schools of Science & Technology, a public charter school, Rosie Robles was accepted to All-In Milwaukee, a college completion program that provides financial aid, advising and career support to high-potential, limited-income students living in the city. She’s now working at Froedtert Hospital as a medical-surgical nurse.

From Becker's Hospital Review — Mark Cuban has spent more than five years building something the health care industry is still figuring out how to respond to. What started as a mail-order pharmacy selling generic drugs at transparent prices has grown into Cost Plus Drugs, a sprawling operation spanning manufacturing, wholesale distribution, retail pharmacy, direct contracting and federal drug policy. As Cost Plus Drugs has grown, a handful of payers have integrated the company’s offerings directly into member benefits. In early 2025, Network Health, the insurance arm of Wisconsin-based Froedtert ThedaCare Health, integrated Cost Plus into its Medicare Advantage pharmacy network. The insurer built a fully electronic claims integration with its PBM, Express Scripts, processing prescriptions in real time and allowing purchases to count toward members’ Part D accumulators.

From Seehafer News — The Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office partnered with Froedtert Holy Family Memorial Hospital, the Manitowoc Police Department, Manitowoc County Recycling & Compost and Healthiest Manitowoc County to collect a total of 352.8 pounds of medication on Saturday, April 25, as part of Drug Take-Back Day.

From the Sheboygan Sun — Whether you are seeking a diagnosis, managing a chronic heart condition or pursuing preventive care, finding a cardiologist who fits your individual needs can make all the difference in your care. Ron Oren, MD, Froedtert & MCW cardiologist, talks about the benefits of establishing care with a cardiologist because patients receive long-term care and personalized treatment for their heart conditions.

From Health System CIO — Health systems that rely exclusively on their EHR vendor’s product suite take the path of least resistance. They also surrender their ability to stand out. That is the central argument from Melek Somai, MD, MPH, VP, chief technology and product officer at Inception Health, the innovation arm of Froedtert Thedacare Health

From 620 WTMJ — April is Donate Life Month, and in recognition of that, Point Taken‘s Steve Scaffidi was joined in-studio by Matthew Cooper, MD, chief of transplantation at Froedtert Hospital. “Well over 95% Americans say they support organ donation, but…60-63% Americans are signed up to be organ donors,” said Dr. Cooper. He explained that kidney transplants are the biggest need and were the most common due to untreated high blood pressure and diabetes.

From WISN 12 — Rachel and Douglas Copher, a Milwaukee couple who grew their family through in vitro fertilization, are now hoping to donate their unused embryos to help another family experience parenthood. Jayme Bosler, MD, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at Froedtert Hospital, said her clinic sees about 20 embryo donations a year, and there are various ways donor parents and recipient families connect.