2009 MMA Annual Meeting Resolutions
The MMA’s 156th House of Delegates acted on
the following resolutions September 18, 2009.
Resolution 100, Resolution 101, Resolution 102, Resolution 103, Resolution 104, Resolution 105, Resolution 106,
Resolution 200, Resolution 201, Resolution 202, Resolution 203, Resolution 204, Resolution 206, Resolution 207, Resolution 208, Resolution 209,
Resolution 300, Resolution 301, Resolution 302, Resolution 303, Resolution 304, Resolution 305, Resolution 306, Resolution 307, Resolution 308, Resolution 309, Resolution 311, Resolution 312, Resolution 313, Resolution 314
RESOLUTION 100, ENHANCING MMA MEMBER COMMUNICATION OPTIONS
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 100 was REFERRED TO THE MMA BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association, either internally or externally, set up a secure website which Minnesota Medical Association members can enter through the use of a user name and password where they can email specific individual members, leaders, or chapters through a website directory that is updated on a regular basis for accuracy of content.
Resolution 100 was submitted by Clay Becker Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 101, NON-STAFFED COMPONENT MEDICAL SOCIETIES
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 101 was ADOPTED.
RESOLVED, that a workgroup be appointed by the Speaker of the House to study the effectiveness and organization of the non-staffed component medical societies and that a report, with input from the Board of Trustees, be provided to the House of Delegates at its 2010 Annual Meeting.
Resolution 101 was submitted by MMA Executive Committee.
RESOLUTION 102, SUNSET POLICY REVIEW
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 102 was ADOPTED.
RESOLVED, that the five “questionable” policies identified during the 2009 sunset policy review process be subject to further review by Minnesota Medical Association staff and leadership and recommended action on them be brought to a future meeting of the Minnesota Medical Association House of Delegates, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association compendium of archived Minnesota Medical Association policies, which contains Minnesota Medical Association polices that are no longer relevant but can be consulted for historical or informational reasons, include the attached recommended “archive” policies (31), and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association reaffirm support for the attached recommended “retain” polices (12), and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association approve and reaffirm support for the attached recommended “retain as edited” policies (9).
Resolution 102 was submitted by the MMA Board of Trustees.
RESOLUTION 103, CONSOLIDATION OF EMMS AND WMMS
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 103 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association House of Delegates approve the consolidation of the EMMS and the WMMS into a single component medical society, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association House of Delegates authorize the Minnesota Medical Association to issue a charter, subject to the approval of the proposed combined metro societies’ Plan of Merger, to become the new Twin Cities Medical Society as the successor organization of the East Metro Medical Society and the West Metro Medical Society, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association Board of Trustees study the following issues, develop Bylaws amendments as appropriate, and report back to the House of Delegates on the following questions: (1) Can one component medical society be subdivided in to more then one trustee district? (2) Should there be an upper percentage limit on the number of delegates that a component medical society be allocated in the House of Delegates? and (3) Should there be an upper percentage limit on the number of Trustees that can be allocated from one trustee district to the Minnesota Medical Association Board of Trustees.
Resolution 103 was submitted by the East Metro Medical Society and West Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 104, THE FINANCIAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 104 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association study potential fiscal and societal impacts of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of children with report back to the Minnesota Medical Association House of Delegates in 2010.
Res olution 104 was submitted by the Stearns-Benton County Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 105, CHANGE TO THE MMA BYLAWS SECTION 4.3 ON DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 105 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the amendments to section 4.3 of the MMA Bylaws be adopted as described in Exhibit A of this resolution, effective immediately, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the MMA Board of Trustees study the issue of membership disciplinary policy and develop bylaws amendments as appropriate to establish a fair and thorough mechanism for hearing and deciding disciplinary complaints.
Resolution 105 was submitted by the MMA Executive Committee.
RESOLUTION 106, CHANGING THE NAME OF STEARNS-BENTON COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 106 was ADOPTED.
RESOLVED, that the name “Stearns-Benton County Medical Society” be changed to “Stearns Benton Medical Society.”
Res olution 106 was submitted by the Stearns-Benton County Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 200, SUPPORT FOR WHOLE-SYSTEM HEALTH REFORMS
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 200 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association continue to support reforms in health care that aim to accomplish the principles of the Patient-Centered-Medical Home (patient-centeredness, comprehensiveness, enhanced access, quality and safety, teamwork, coordination of care, continuous (relational) care, and the payment reforms to support those principles), and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association support whole system health care reform that recognizes the shared responsibility for coordination of care between primary care physicians and other specialist physicians as needed to ensure the optimal care of the patient, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association support reforms in health care that bolster patients’ access to primary care physicians and support the viability of practice of primary care and other specialty medical practices, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association, at the state and national levels, support reforms in health care that apply the principles of the Patient-Centered-Medical Home for all patients and across the entire health care system, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association support reform in health care that supports patients making informed decisions in the context of the trusting relationship with their personal physician.
Resolution 200 was submitted by the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians.
RESOLUTION 201, THE ROLE OF PRIMARY CARE MEDICAL PROVIDERS IN REDUCING CARIES AS PART OF WELL-CHILD CARE
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 201 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association encourage primary care medical providers to work toward preventing childhood caries by performing an oral examination, conducting a risk-assessment, offering anticipatory guidance about caries etiology and prevention, and applying fluoride varnish quarterly to the teeth of those children at high-risk, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association enter into discussions with the Minnesota Dental Association to address pediatric dental access issues.
Resolution 201 was submitted by the West Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 202, ENACTMENT OF MINNESOTA “APOLOGY LAWS” TO ENCOURAGE PHYSICIANS TO DISCLOSE MEDICAL ERROR
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 202 was REFERRED TO THE MMA BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association work with the Minnesota Hospital Association and the Board of Medical Practice and other interested parties to study the potential impact of apology laws on improving disclosure of medical errors within the state of Minnesota, and be it further
RESOLVED, that if the study so merits, the Minnesota Medical Association Board of Trustees develop appropriate legislation and lobby for enactment of such apology laws to encourage medical disclosure of adverse events and protect Minnesota physicians from the use of such disclosure in malpractice litigation.
Res olution 202 was submitted by the East Metro Medical Society and West Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 203, PAYMENT PARITY TO HEALTH PLAN PATIENTS WHO SEE OUT-OF-NETWORK PSYCHIATRISTS
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 203 was REFERRED TO THE MMA BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association query MMA membership about their clinical and administrative experiences when attempting to obtain psychiatric consultation and ongoing treatment for their patients or patients’ family members and use this information in discussions with health plans and the legislature, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association request Minnesota health plans to provide data concerning the adequacy of their mental health networks, their capacity to treat new and established patients in a timely manner, their provider network credential and inclusion criteria, the professional identity of their mental health/addictions network professionals, their patient satisfaction and complaint information, and the numbers, nature, and trends of enrollee requests for out-of-network coverage, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association advocate for parity of payments for psychiatric evaluation and ongoing care by out-of-network physicians who use the American Psychiatric Association and American Society of Addiction Medicine clinical care guidelines, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association examine current Minnesota law and administrative regulations on the methodology and regulation of health plan company methods to set “usual and customary” physician fees in Minnesota, and recommend appropriate legislative or administrative actions to assure fairness and appropriateness.
Res olution 203 was submitted by the West Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 204, MMA PROMOTION OF ADDICTION AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 204 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association support evidence-based approaches to the prevention of drug abuse by encouraging physicians to participate in continuing medical education to improve their skills in diagnosis, referral, and treatment of patients with alcohol and drug abuse problems, including illicit and prescribed drugs, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association publicize evidence about drug and alcohol abuse as a preventable and treatable major health problem, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association encourage primary and secondary schools and colleges to provide chemical dependency education programs as part of their curricula.
Res olution 204 was submitted by the East Metro Medical Society and West Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 206, OBESITY CARVE-OUT LANGUAGE
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 206 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association reaffirm its opposition to the language in Minnesota Statutes 2003, Section 256B.0625, Subdivision 13d, line 3 that prohibits public program coverage for “drugs used for weight loss, except that medically necessary lipase inhibitors may be covered for a recipient with type II diabetes.”
Resolution 206 was submitted by the East Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 207, FINANCIAL BURDEN OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 207 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association continue to support awareness among medical students, residents, and practicing physicians of those medications that provide the most value among available therapeutic options, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association affirm that clinical decisions regarding medications are most appropriately made by the prescribing physician, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association oppose burdensome prior authorization requirements that negatively impact patient care or access to needed medications.
Res olution 207 was submitted by the Lake Superior Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 208, EQUAL ACCESS TO LOW-COST MEDICATIONS FOR MINNESOTA CITIZENS
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 208 was NOT ADOPTED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association re-examine Minnesota pharmacy laws and regulations to identify those affecting the availability of low-cost medications, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association promote action to provide improved access to low cost medications for Minnesota residents.
Resolution 208 was submitted by the Range Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 209, ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICATION
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 209 was ADOPTED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association continue to advocate for further modernization, standardization, and simplification of health care administrative processes and transactions, including the use of electronic data transfers instead of paper or fax technology.
Resolution 209 was submitted by the Lake Superior Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 300, ECONOMIC INTERVENTIONS FOR EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 300 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association continue to support efforts to reduce excessive use of alcohol by increasing the alcohol excise tax and indexing it to inflation; supporting a tax on alcoholic beverages based on grams of ethanol per beverage; supporting the imposition of higher fees for retail liquor licensure; and, supporting efforts to prohibit discounts for on-sale alcohol.
Resolution 300 was submitted by the MMA Committee on Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
RESOLUTION 301, UNDERSTANDING COLON CANCER DVD
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 301 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association disseminate through its various information sources the availability of the multilingual 20-minute DVD presentation entitled “Understanding Colon Cancer” to all of its members to encourage appropriate screening and eliminate misunderstandings relative to the procedures involved, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association Board of Trustees establish a process for identifying and disseminating information about educational resources to members, with a priority on resources that are multimedia, multilingual, and culturally sensitive.
Resolution 301 was submitted by the MMA Committee on Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
RESOLUTION 302, VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY: A WIDESPREAD PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM IN NEED OF A STATEWIDE AWARENESS PROGRAM
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 302 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association make it a priority to educate all Minnesota healthcare providers and third-party payers with the best information available on reducing the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association encourage the Minnesota Department of Health to increase efforts to inform Minnesotans about the issue of vitamin D deficiency.
Res olution 302 was submitted by the MMA Committee on Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
RESOLUTION 303, ADOPTION OF COMPREHENSIVE TOBACCO CESSATION BENEFITS
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 303 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association recommend that all payers provide comprehensive tobacco cessation benefits, including counseling and pharmaceutical therapies, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association disseminate this recommendation to its membership and advocate through its collaborative partnerships for its adoption by all Minnesota payers, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association commend the efforts of the Minnesota Cancer Alliance and continue to collaborate with the Alliance in support of the above goals.
Resolution 303 was submitted by the West Metro Medical Society and East Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 304, MINNESOTA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION TO SUPPORT HF 1865, THE HEALTHY MINNESOTA PLAN
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 304 was NOT ADOPTED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association support HF 1865, the Healthy Minnesota Plan, in the 86th Minnesota legislative session (2009-2010).
Resolution 304 was submitted by the West Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 305, CONSUMER-DIRECTED REFORMS FOR MINNESOTA STATE HEALTH PROGRAMS
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 305 was NOT ADOPTED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association advocate the following principles to reform the Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare health care programs: 1) provide state premium subsidies for Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees to purchase private, high deductible, health risk-adjusted, individual health policies which they own and can continue or renew when their eligibility changes; 2) create state-funded health care reimbursement arrangements (HRA) using debit cards for eligible enrollees so that patients or their caregivers directly control payments to providers of health care services; 3) advocate for expanded private insurance market options for state program enrollees to encourage insurance company/health plan competition in Minnesota to attract and retain state program enrollees; and 4) extend Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association (MCHA) eligibility to high-risk state program enrollees with pre-existing conditions or chronic illnesses.
Resolution 305 was submitted by the West Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 306, MINIMUM DRINKING AGE
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 306 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association oppose efforts to lower the legal drinking age from 21 years.
Resolution 306 was submitted by the West Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 307, MINNESOTA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ARRANGEMENTS (HRAs) AND OTHER HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLANS (HDHPs) FOR PUBLIC SECTOR POPULATIONS
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 307 was NOT ADOPTED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association support the concept of Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and other high deductible health plans for public sector populations.
Resolution 307 was submitted by the East Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 308, CORPORATE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND FEE SPLITTING PROHIBITION
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 308 was NOT ADOPTED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association support keeping laws that now prohibit the corporate practice of medicine and fee splitting, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association seek judicial relief from any laws that allow providers to collude in the profits or losses from volume of referrals by fee splitting such as the baskets of care language passed in Minnesota Laws of 2008, Chap. 358.
Resolution 308 was submitted by the East Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 309, HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN (HDHP) COMBINATIONS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMS: “MEDICAL IRAs FOR THE POOR”
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 309 was NOT ADOPTED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association support, help develop, and lobby for the use of health savings account high deductible health plans for applicable Medical Assistance populations and for other public sector programs, with controls modeled after the former Federal Health Opportunity Account Demonstration Programs.
Resolution 309 was submitted by the East Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 311, WORK GROUP TO STUDY MMA POLICY RELATIVE TO RAPID CHANGES IN THE MEDICAL CARE SYSTEM
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 311 was ADOPTED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association establish a work group to study and make recommendations regarding existing MMA policy relevance to 1) the rapid changes in private and public sector medical insurance markets; 2) the economics of political reform proposals; 3) new threats to patient protection laws that prohibit fee splitting; and 4) the patient need for high quality professional care at a reasonable price.
Resolution 311 was submitted by the East Metro Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 312, CONSEQUENCES OF SMOKING IN CARS WITH MINORS
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 312 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association continue to advocate to decrease secondhand smoke exposure among children, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association support educational efforts, and legislative efforts upon assessment by the MMA Board of Trustees, to reduce children’s exposure to secondhand smoke in vehicles.
Resolution 312 was submitted by the Stearns-Benton County Medical Society.
RESOLUTION 313, SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM
HOUSE ACTION: Resolution 313 was NOT ADOPTED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association support practices and policies in medical schools, hospitals, and other health care facilities that support and model a healthful and ecologically sustainable food system, which provides food and beverages of naturally high nutritional quality, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association encourage the development of a more healthful food system, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association consider working with other health care and public health organizations to educate the health care community and the public about the importance of healthful and ecologically sustainable food systems, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association, to the best of its ability, work to secure healthful and ecologically sustainable food for professional meetings, while taking into account food availability and economic feasibility.
Resolution 313 was submitted by the Lake Superior Medical Society.
LATE RESOLUTION 314, STANDARDIZED POLICY AND PRACTICE ON VACCINATIONS FOR HOSPITAL MEDICAL STAFFS
HOUSE ACTION: Late Resolution 314 was ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Medical Association work promptly with the Minnesota Hospital Association, the Minnesota Department of Health, and other interested parties to develop a standard policy and process for Minnesota hospitals regarding medical staff influenza vaccinations, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the policy and process develop a mechanism for an active immunization declination process at Minnesota hospitals.
Late Resolution 314 was submitted by Robert C. Moravec, M.D., Delegate.