Ensuring access to quality health care is one of MMA’s key priorities. But the impending shortage of primary care physicians (PCPs) is threatening that access for many, especially residents of outstate areas. A number of factors have contributed to this shortage, including financial pressures associated with high medical school debt, decreases in state funding for medical education, a steady or decreasing number of primary care physician residency slots and an aging population that is requiring more care.

MMA will work to alleviate this shortage by developing partnerships with medical schools, training sites and state leaders to accelerate the commitment of expanding the primary care physician workforce.

Here’s our plan.

Convene primary care leaders
MMA will bring together primary care leaders from around Minnesota to identify gaps in the primary physician workforce and develop a plan to fill those needs. This group will include representatives from medical schools, residency programs, medical groups and governmental organizations.

Expand the Health Care Home model
MMA will work to improve the primary care physician practice environment by, for example, expanding the adoption of the Health Care Home model. All patients should have access to a health care home, and all payers and employers should support this model of coordinated care delivery.

Reinstate MERC funding
MMA will work for the reinstatement of the state’s portion of the Medical Education and Research Costs (MERC) fund, which supports the cost of physician training in practice sites within the community.

For more information about MMA's plan to increase the primary care physician workforce, email us at mma@medmn.org or call 612-378-1875.