MMA News Now
Physicians Put Forward Resolutions
The MMA’s 157th House of Delegates will consider about 35 resolutions at this year’s annual meeting September 15-17 in Brainerd. Taking action on resolutions, which help shape MMA policy and the overall direction of the organization, is the main work of the House of Delegates.
Resolutions are debated in reference committees, which then recommend action by the House of Delegates. The House can vote to adopt or not adopt a resolution, refer a resolution to the Board, or amend or adopt a substitute resolution.
During the meeting, the House will consider resolutions on issues that represent the diverse opinions of MMA members. This year, the House will consider resolutions that call for the MMA to:
- Encourage Medicare to re-evaluate the requirement that all notes and orders be signed by the ordering physician;
- Establish a task force to develop strategies to support the economic viability of independent medical practices;
- Oppose the federal mandate that all citizens purchase health insurance;
- Support legislation that would prohibit corporations from requiring doctors to assume global insurance risks;
- Support legislation that would remove the requirement that physicians make a mandatory appearance before the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice in order to secure a Minnesota medical license;
- Support a mandatory influenza vaccination policy for health care workers;
- Encourage clinics to post their professional fees and charges on the Internet;
- Study the pros and cons of expanding access to health insurance products sold in states other than Minnesota;
- Support and endorse the MN 10 by 10 Initiative, which is designed to lengthen the average lifespan of Minnesotans with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar affective disorder by 10 years within 10 years;
- Oppose a combined diabetes quality measure until research proves that such a measure is beneficial to patients;
- Support single-payer health care legislation in Minnesota;
- Support making high-deductible insurance policies coupled with medical spending accounts available to all consumers participating in health insurance exchanges;
- Develop and implement a marketing campaign to push for the abolition of the provider tax;
- Support efforts to provide paid parental leave to employees and to educate employers about the benefits of paid parental leave;
- Recommend that physicians and providers who use radiation-based medical imaging participate in the American College of Radiology’s National Radiology Data Registry programs including the Dose Index Registry;
- Support the use of radiology order-entry systems with integrated decision support based on physician-developed guidelines as an alternative to radiology benefits management;
- Support legislation that would require school boards in Minnesota to adopt anti-bullying policies and to provide staff with training on how to prevent and respond to bullying;
- Support legislation that would encourage the voluntary use of health impact assessments to guide community development and policy decisions at all levels of government in Minnesota; and
- Support development of a resource that offers tools, referral options, and other information that could be used by physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of dementia.
The complete list of resolutions for the 2010 MMA Annual Meeting is online at www.mmaonline.net/resolutions.
MMA Brings National ACO Expert to Minnesota
Don’t miss an opportunity to hear Harold Miller, a leading national expert on care delivery and payment reform. Miller is known for his ability to break down the issues surrounding Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), a payment model that is gaining traction across the nation, in a way that is relevant to physicians. The MMA is sponsoring this event in order to help Minnesota physicians understand the pros and cons of this payment model. This session will help you learn whether becoming an ACO is right for your practice.
When: Wednesday, October 13, 2010, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Ramada Plaza Minneapolis, 1330 Industrial Boulevard NE Cost
$49 MMA members, $99 nonmembers
Registration www.mmaonline.net/ACOevent
Nominees for MMA Offices Announced
The MMA Board of Trustees accepted the Nomination and Leadership Development Committee’s slate of nominees during its July meeting. Nominations will remain open until the MMA House of Delegates convenes on Thursday, September 16. The House will elect officers on Friday, September 17. The nominees are:
President-Elect
Lyle J. Swenson, M.D.
Secretary-Treasurer
David E. Westgard, M.D.*
Speaker of the House of Delegates
Mark Liebow, M.D.
Vice Speaker of the House
Robert Moravec, M.D.
AMA Delegates
John Van Etta, M.D.*
Ken Crabb, M.D.*
AMA Alternate Delegates
Blanton Bessinger, M.D.*
Paul Matson, M.D.*
Benjamin Whitten, M.D.*
*Candidate for re-election
Minnesota Insurers Mandate Online Credentialing
PreferredOne and Medica are requiring providers to apply for credentials using the Minnesota Credentialing Collaborative’s (MCC) online application. PreferredOne required online applications through the MCC as of September 1, with Medica following October 1.
The MCC is a joint effort of the MMA, the Minnesota Hospital Association, and the Minnesota Council of Health Plans to streamline the credentialing process by providing an online method for entering, storing, and distributing credentialing information. Using the new process, an applicant can complete an online form within 90 minutes. Once completed, first-time applications and recredentialing requests can be sent to any number of organizations within minutes. The cost to physicians is $25 per year regardless of the number of applications sent to hospitals or health plans.
Since the system launched in 2009, 5,000 physicians and other providers have registered. All health plans are participating, and hospital participation is steadily increasing. As of August 2010, 2,000 online applications have been processed.
To begin the online credentialing process, visit the Minnesota Credentialing Collaborative website at www.mncred.org. If you have questions, contact George Lohmer at glohmer@mnmed.org.