POLST Bill Passes House Committee
March 24, 2022
Legislation to create an advisory group to study and recommend how to initiate a statewide registry for Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) formsreceived strong bipartisan support in the House Health Finance and Policy Committee on March 18.
Legislation to Help Patients with Chronic Pain Passes Senate Committee
March 24, 2022
Legislation intended to protect patients with chronic pain, and ensure health and safety in opioid prescribing passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee this week.
Legislation Preserving Access to Needed Prescription Drugs Heard in House Committee
March 24, 2022
A bill that prevents insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from forcing a patient to change to a new medication during the contract year once a therapy has begun was heard in the House Health Finance and Policy Committee this week. This is one of the MMA’s top legislative priorities this session.
POLST Bill to Get Hearing in House on March 18
March 17, 2022
The House Health Finance and Policy Committee is expected to hear a bill on March 18 that would create an advisory group to study and recommend how to initiate a statewide registry for Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms. This is one of the MMA’s top legislative priorities for the session.
Senate Committee Passes Preceptor Tax Credit Bill
March 17, 2022
The Senate Tax Committee passed SF3563 (Sen. Greg Clausen-DFL, Apple Valley) regarding a temporary refundable income tax credit for preceptors.
March 23 Forum to Examine Firearm Death and Injury Prevention
March 17, 2022
Firearm death and injury prevention will be the topic of the MMA’s next noon-time forum on March 23 from noon to 1 p.m.
Congress Extends Medicare Coverage for Telehealth Services
March 17, 2022
The U.S. Congress has agreed to extend Medicare coverage for telehealth services for at least five months after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. President Biden signed this into law on March 15.
Physicians Could See 2023 Medicare Rate Freeze
March 17, 2022
On March 15, the AMA sent a letter to Congressional leadership disputing a recommendation (p. 149) by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to freeze Medicare physician payment rates for 2023.
Lawmakers Begin Deliberating Over State’s $9.25 Billion Surplus
March 10, 2022
On February 28, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) announced another record-breaking economic surplus for the state.
MMA Amends Policy to Provide Exceptions to a Patient’s Ability to Access Clinical Notes
March 10, 2022
At its March 7 meeting, the MMA Board of Trustees amended existing MMA policy that supports a patient’s ability to access their clinical notes.