Top Stories Prior Auth Bill Expected to Be Heard in HHS Finance Committee April 11 A bill that will help patients get needed medication in a timelier manner and reduce the hassles physicians face with prior authorization problems is expected to be heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Finance Committee on April 11. Read more here.  MMA Addresses Gov's HHS Supplemental Budget The MMA testified on a number of aspects of the governor's Health and Human Services (HHS) supplemental budget as part of a Senate HHS Committee hearing on April 5. Read more here. Prescription Monitoring Program Bill Moves in the House Legislators remain interested in finding solutions to the issue of prescription drug abuse, particularly opioid abuse. The House HHS Committee passed a bill to enhance the state's Prescription Monitoring program. The bill has been referred to Civil Law and Data Practices Committee. Read more here.  MMA Advocates for Health Care Workforce Council at Capitol On March 23, MMA member Jeremy Springer, MD, testified on behalf of a bill that would establish a comprehensive health care workforce council and a health care workforce plan. Read more here.  MMA Debuts New Website The MMA has launched its new website. It features a completely revamped home page with links to the most popular pages on the site, plus easier access to our award-winning magazine, Minnesota Medicine. The home page also features a new polling feature and a live Twitter feed. We hope you find the site easier to navigate. Feel free to send us a comment.  Tell Us What You Think! You have one more week to respond to the MMA's value/satisfaction survey. We want to hear your opinions about how the MMA is performing and what we could do better. You will receive one final email reminder on Monday, April 11, with a link to the survey. All respondents will be eligible to win one of two $250 Visa gift cards. Your opinion is important. We want to hear from you.  State Seeks Physician for Board of Medical Practice The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State is looking for a physician to fill an open seat on the Board of Medical Practice. The board is responsible for licensing and registering medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy, physician assistants, traditional midwives, respiratory therapists, acupuncturists, athletic trainers and naturopaths; and enforcing the relevant practice acts. Members are paid $75 per diem plus expenses. The expected time commitment is one business day and one Saturday per month, plus preparation time. Applications are due April 26. For more information or to apply, visit the Secretary of State website. Memberships Have Expired - Have You Renewed? Don't be left out! MMA memberships expired April 1, but there's still time to renew. We're making it easy. Click here to begin the renewal process. Or call us at 612-362-3728 and renew with a credit card. You also can renew online at join/renew. Not a member? It's easy to join, just give us a call or go online.  Save the Date: National Expert to Address Payment Reform The MMA will host a discussion on payment reform June 1 on the University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus, featuring Harold Miller, president and CEO of the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. Miller works at the local, state and national levels on initiatives to improve the quality of health care services and to change the fundamental structure of health care payment systems in order to improve value. Miller is also an adjunct professor of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University. Stay tuned to MMA News Now for more details.   Social Events Set for Metro and Rochester Physicians, Residents, Students The MMA is excited to announce the dates and locations of two free networking events in Minneapolis and Rochester for physicians and physicians-in-training this spring. One will take place May 25 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Surly Brewery in Minneapolis. The second will take place June 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Cambria Gallery in Rochester. These events are not only a celebration of medicine, but also a thank you to our members, and a welcome to new and prospective members. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be provided. Stay tuned to MMA News Now for more details.   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.  Minority Health Month is Here April is National Minority Health Month. This year's theme is "Accelerating Health Equity for the Nation." Click here for more information.   Minnesota Medicine     Avoiding Unintended Bias: Strategies for Providing More Equitable Health Care   On the go? Get the latest edition of Minnesota Medicine in one place. Read our Digital Edition. Other MMA News MN Physician Ratings Highlighted in Consumer Reports MMA Begins Leadership Nomination Process Deadline Approaching for MN Medicaid EHR Incentive Program MMGMA to Host its Sixth Annual "Day with The Payers" Physicians, Physician-in-Training Lobby Legislators on MMA Priorities Bill to Extend APCD Usage Clears Committee Hurdle MMA Speaks Out Against Bill to Reinstate Provider Tax Gov. Releases Budget, Includes Shifting of Health Care Dollars In Case You Missed It There's a Way to Treat Opiate Addiction, So Why Isn't It Being Used? (Time) Medical Community is Fighting a New Germ: Celebrities (Minneapolis Star Tribune/AP) Fairview Health Services to merge with UCare health plan (MPR) Physician Supply and Demand Through 2025: Key Findings (Association of American Medical College)  Events May 25: Physician Social #1 (Minneapolis) June 1: Payment Reform Forum with Harold Miller (St. Paul) June 8: Physician Social #2 (Rochester) Sept. 23 - 24:  MMA 2016 Annual Conference (St. Louis Park)