With this last issue of MMA News Now for 2014, we wanted to say thank you for being a part of the MMA. Minnesota continues to be a leader in health care innovation and a superior place to practice medicine. For that and more, we should be proud.

We accomplished much this past year. We continued addressing prescription opioid misuse and the primary care physician workforce shortage. At the Legislature, we advocated for physician-led team-based care, expanding the use of the all-payer claims database, stricter regulations on e-cigarettes, prohibiting teens from accessing tanning beds, and restoring the state's newborn screening program.

We also hosted a series of spirited forums on medical cannabis, health disparities and the question of whether single payer is right for Minnesota. In September, we launched a revitalized Annual Conference with great discussions on physician well-being, telemedicine and the primary care workforce.

Many of our members served on boards, task forces and committees that will help influence the future of medicine in Minnesota and help our patients lead healthier lives. We also sat at the table with the governor and the health commissioner to allay fears during the Ebola scare this fall.

All in all, it was a great year for physicians in Minnesota.

But, we still face many challenges: easing the burden of prior authorization; increasing loan forgiveness funding for young physicians; continuing the Medicaid payment bump for primary care physicians; expanding on our efforts to regulate e-cigarettes and flavored tobaccos; and expediting physician licensure for those who want to practice in multiple states. These issues will not be resolved without a lot of hard work.

But we are up to the task. We look forward to another year working on your behalf. We know you will be right there with us advocating for all Minnesota physicians.

We wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday season.   

Robert Meiches, M.D.

MMA CEO