MINNEAPOLIS. August 11, 2008—Sen. Amy Klobuchar, DFL-Minnesota, will be continuing her campaign to reform the way Congress funds Medicare, with stops in Rochester and Mankato planned.

Paul Matson, M.D., representing the MMA, will join Klobuchar ands the rest of the panel when it visits Mankato Monday afternon, August 18. Matson served as MMA president in 2003 and as chair of the Board of Trustees in 2004.

Physicians in the areas are encouraged to attend both events.

Klobuchar will calling attention to the geographic unfairess of Medicare funding. In Miami, Medicare spends about $8,000 per patient per year, whereas Medicare spends about $4,000 per patient per year in Minneapolis. This happens even though the care outcomes in Minnesota are measurably higher, and seniors pay the same premiums.

Joining Klobuchar in Rochester will be:

• U.S. Representative Tim Walz, DFL-First District 
• Former Sen. David Durenberger, founder and chair of the National Institute for Health Policy
• Dennis Cortese, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic
• Jennifer Lundblad, M.D., CEO of Stratis Health 
• Lee Graczyk, issues director for the Minnesota Senior Federation 

The Rochester event takes place at 9:30 a.m. Monday, August 18, in Room 417 of the University of Minnesota Rochester's University Square at 111 South Broadway.

Joining Klobuchar in Mankato will be Rep. Walz, Lundblad, and Graczyk, and also Past MMA President Matson. The event will take place at 3:15 p.m. Monday, August 18, at Mankato's Summit Center, 518 South 5th Street.

Parking for Summit Center can is available on the Warren Street side of the building.