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MMA Members Press House Speaker on Provider Tax
Several MMA members and staff met with Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) on March 7 to urge him to get rid of the provider tax once and for all. Read more here.
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Flood of New Bills Accompanies Session's Start
More than 900 bills including several that deal directly with health care have been introduced in the first week of the 2016 legislative session. They join the more than 4,600 individual bills introduced in 2015 that remain "alive" and available for consideration by the House and Senate. Read more here.
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Health Care Spending Growth Rate Remains Low for State
Health care spending in Minnesota continues to grow at a slow rate, according to a study released by the Minnesota Department of Health on March 10. The latest data shows that spending increased 3.1 percent in 2013 - the fourth-lowest increase since the state began tracking spending. Read more here.
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House Leader Added to Day at the Capitol Agenda
Rep. Tara Mack (R-Apple Valley), chair of the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee, will be the keynote speaker at this year's Day at the Capitol, March 23. This session, the MMA continues its quest to fix medication prior authorization as well as maintain the repeal to the provider tax, which is scheduled to end in 2019. In addition, the MMA wants to completely remove the conscientiously held belief exemption that allows parents to opt-out of the state law to immunize their children. To register, visit the MMA website.
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Senate Opioid Abuse Bill Moves Forward With MN Co-Authors
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken are co-sponsoring a bill (S.524 - Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016) that would provide funding to address opioid abuse and increase availability of naloxone. The bill passed a critical procedural vote on the Senate floor earlier this week moving it towards its expected passage. This comprehensive legislation creates a national public awareness campaign on the risks of prescription opioid abuse and heroin addiction, and provides state and local grants to fund additional treatment programs, support programs that stress alternatives to incarceration, support drug take-back programs, and train first responders in the administration of naloxone.
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State Seeks Psychiatrists for Special Review Board
The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State is looking for four psychiatrists to take part in a special Department of Human Services board to review custody petitions involving individuals civilly committed as mentally ill and dangerous, as sexually dangerous persons, or as having a sexual psychopathic personality. Applications are due March 29. For more information or to apply, visit the Secretary of State website.
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Have you Certified Patients for Minnesota's Medical Cannabis Program?
Minnesota Medicine is planning a special issue on medical cannabis. We'll discuss what we've learned since the state legalized the drug for medical use as well as what's to come with the addition of intractable pain as a qualifying condition. We would like to interview physicians who've had experience with the program. We want to know: Why did you decide to participate? Have you ever felt conflicted about whether certifying a patient? Would you like to see changes to the program? What have you seen in terms of outcomes - good or bad? If you would be willing to be interviewed, email Kim Kiser or call 612-362-3758 by March 25.
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Call for Entries: Minnesota Medicine's Annual Writing and Photo Contests
Physicians, residents and medical students: Do you have a story to tell? A photo you'd like to share? Then Minnesota Medicine is looking for you. Enter your essay, poem or short story in our Medical Musings writing contest by Monday, May 2. Enter the best photo you've taken in our annual photography contest by Monday, May 9. Winners will be featured in the July issue of the magazine. For more information, click here.
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