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MMA Sends Letters Opposing Senate Health Bill to MN Senators
On July 6, the MMA sent letters opposing the Senate's Better Care Reconciliation Act to Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, both of whom oppose the plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Read more here.
Senate Select Committee to Study Health Care Costs & Access
In its first meeting on July 12, the Senate Select Committee on Health Care Consumer Access and Affordability heard presentations from the Minnesota Department of Health, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Human Services, and Minnesota Management and Budget, offering committee members an overview of health care utilization, access and spending across the state. Read more here
Three New Lectures Added to Pain, Opioids, and Addiction Series
The MMA has added three more free lectures to its Pain, Opioids, and Addiction Series. Read more here
Prescribers: Look for PMP Survey Next Week
The Minnesota Prescription Monitoring Program will conduct its annual survey regarding the utilization and effectiveness of the database. The survey will take five to 10 minutes to complete and will be emailed to prescriber and pharmacist account holders. The survey will open on July 17 and close July 31.  
Duluth Medical Students Headed to Finland for Worldwide Competition
Second-year medical student Nathan Ratner won the USA and Caribbean region and will be representing Minnesota and the USA in Helsinki, Finland, for an August event called Elsevier Hacks, a "hackathon" to solve a need in medicine. Ratner will compete against other students from around the world. Click here to watch Ratner's video and see the other 15 medical students with whom he is competing. 
Volunteer Position Available on Medical Cannabis Review Panel
The Minnesota Department of Health is looking for one health care practitioner to serve on its Medical Cannabis Review Panel. Apply by July 24. The term runs through Aug. 31, 2019. Interested physicians can either apply on the Minnesota Secretary of State website or obtain a paper application form from the Office of the Secretary of State, Open Appointments, located at 180 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155-1299. 
MMA's Legislative Review Now Available Online
The recent legislative session had some good and some bad in it for Minnesota physicians. The MMA was able to maintain the provider tax repeal, align state and federal quality measures, and pass several bills that will help fight the opioid epidemic. But, the House's resistance to moving the MMA's medication prior authorization legislation forward continues to be a frustration. Read a full report of the session here.
Time to Submit Issues for Open Issues Forum at Annual Conference
Have an issue for which MMA action may be needed? Submit it for consideration at the Open Issues Forum, held annually at the MMA Annual Conference. This is a great opportunity to bring issues to the attention of the MMA, to discuss issues submitted by your fellow colleagues, and to get perspective on issues from physicians across the state. Deadline: Friday, Aug. 11.
Medical Students, Residents and Fellows: Share Research at the 4th Annual Poster Symposium
Get feedback from practicing physicians on your research! Submit an abstract to be considered for a poster presentation during the MMA's Annual Conference on Sept. 23 in Rochester. To be eligible, you must be enrolled in and actively pursuing an approved course within Minnesota leading to the degree of doctor of medicine or osteopathy, or engaged in a resident or fellow program approved by the Liaison Committee on Graduate Medical Education. If you have questions regarding eligibility, contact the MMA at am@mnmed.org. Accepted poster entrants receive free registration to the conference. Submission deadline: July 31.
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