Insurers Apply to Sell on MNsure, Officers Elected

The state's top insurance providers - BlueCross and BlueShield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, Medica and UCare - all submitted plans on May 24 to take part in MNsure, Minnesota's new health insurance exchange. They should hear in July whether their plans are accepted, according to the Star Tribune.

Special Committee Formed to Address Drug Issues in Minnesota

Speaker of the House Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis) has convened a Select Committee on Controlled Substances and Synthetic Drugs to examine drug abuse issues in Minnesota and to recommend policies to combat the sale of synthetic drugs in the state.

Legislators Request Studies, Reports

Tucked within the 700 pages of the Health and Human Service funding bill are provisions requiring studies by various state entities, many of which will be of interest to Minnesota physicians.

RARE Campaign Leads to Fewer Readmissions in 2011-2012

Minnesota hospitals and care providers prevented more than 4,500 avoidable hospital readmissions during 2011 and 2012 as a result of the RARE (Reducing Avoidable Readmissions Effectively) campaign. The campaign also saw patients spending 18,000 fewer nights in hospitals and a reduction of more than $40 million in inpatient costs. 

June 15 Deadline Set for MMA's Physician Database Update 

Please watch your mailbox for the 2013 Minnesota Physician Database update. Your response to the annual update of physician and clinic information is essential to both MMA and the Minnesota Medical Group Management Association (MMGMA). In addition to make sure accurate physician and clinic listings appear on MMA's Physician Finder, the MMA and MMGMA will use the database to better understand the state of medicine in Minnesota, and to quickly communicate with physicians and their clinic administrators about important issues. If you have questions, contact Charlene Williams at 612-362-3747, 800-DIAL-MMA, or email: census@mnmed.org.

Governance 2.0 Task Force Final Report Online

The Governance 2.0 Task Force's final report and recommendations are now available for viewing on the MMA's Governance and Leadership page. The website also includes a one-page synopsis of the report and recommendations, and updated FAQs on the governance discussion. For more information, visit the MMA News Now archives.

Resolutions for House of Delegates Due July 12

All resolutions for this year's Annual Meeting must be submitted by July 12. Late resolutions will be considered only if they are of a truly urgent nature. If you have questions about submitting a resolution, contact the MMA Annual Meeting office. Additional information can be found on the Annual Meeting page. This year's meeting takes place Sept. 20-21 at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest (formerly known as the Northland Inn) in Brooklyn Center.

MMA Debuts New Information Tool for Physicians

The MMA is creating fact sheets that provide quick tips about current topics of interest to physicians. Called "8 things physicians need to know..." the fact sheets are available on the MMA website and from our membership team.

The MMA's legislative team - Dave Renner, director of state and federal legislation, and Eric Dick, manager of state legislative affairs - dissect the recently completed legislative session. The wins. The surprises. And what lies ahead.

PAD: Shining light on a neglected condition

Perhipheral artery disease has been long underappreciated. But researchers are working to change that.