Legislature Home for Easter/Passover Break; Budget Work Begins
April 6, 2023
Legislators adjourned for the Easter/Passover Break on April 4, to return April 11 with six weeks to wrap up their business before the May 22 legislative adjournment date.
Verghese to Speak at MMA Conference on September 21
April 6, 2023
Bestselling author, champion of the patient-physician relationship, and a prominent voice in medicine, Abraham Verghese, MD, will be the keynote speaker at an MMA conference on September 21 in downtown Minneapolis.
Federal Judge Rules Against Some of the ACA’s Free Preventive Care Offerings
March 30, 2023
On March 30, a U.S. district judge in Texas ruled that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement for insurers to cover preventive health services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is unconstitutional because members of that panel are not appointed by the president and approved by the Senate, violating the U.S. Constitution’s appointments clause.
Physician Unionizing Vote Results at Allina Mercy, Unity Delayed
March 30, 2023
Physician employees at Allina Mercy and Unity locations voted March 27-28 on whether to unionize with Doctors Council SEIU. At press time, the results of the election had not been called.
State Forms Guiding Council to Study Long COVID
March 30, 2023
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is partnering with Stratis Health and consultants from the former Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) to form a network of 20 primary care physicians and specialists who are treating long COVID patients from across the state.
Several MMA Priorities Contained in House Omnibus Bills
March 30, 2023
On March 27, the House Health Finance and Policy Committee released its omnibus bill, which contains several MMA priorities, including a two-year extension for audio-only telehealth coverage, Medical Assistance coverage for recuperative care services, and the creation of a statewide database for provider orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) forms.
Recuperative Care Bill Receives Senate Hearing
March 23, 2023
An MMA priority bill to offer Medical Assistance (MA) coverage for recuperative care services for Minnesotans experiencing homelessness who need a place to recover following a hospitalization was heard this week by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Firearm Safety Legislation Heard in Senate Committee
March 23, 2023
Two firearm safety bills were passed by the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on March 23.
Legal Protections for Abortion Providers and Patients Passes House Floor
March 23, 2023
A bill that offers legal protection to patients who travel to Minnesota for an abortion and for the healthcare providers who treat them, passed the Minnesota House of Representatives, 68-62, on March 20.
Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare to Resume Eligibility Reviews of Enrollees; Tools Available to Help Patients Renew Coverage
March 23, 2023
After a three-year pause during the COVID-19 public health emergency, Medical Assistance (MA) and MinnesotaCare will resume annual eligibility reviews of their enrollees (i.e., renewals). Renewals will begin as early as July for MA enrollees and October for MinnesotaCare enrollees.