February 16, 2023
At its February 8 meeting, the MMA Board of Trustees (BOT) approved a policy proposal titled “Harm Reduction of Illicit Drug Use,” which contains language on a set of strategies to reduce the negative consequences associated with illicit drug use.
The policy covers the following topics:
Reducing Stigma Associated with Drug Use
Drug Checking (e.g., for fentanyl, etc.)
Access to Safe Drug Use Supplies
Drug Testing (e.g., workplace drug testing)
Medication for Opioid Use Disorder
Naloxone Access
Opioid Overdose Training
Overdose Prevention Centers (i.e., Supervised Consumption/Injection Sites)
The proposal was originally drafted by the MMA Illicit Drug Harm Reduction and Decriminalization Work Group (IDWG), which was formed by the MMA Policy Council to study the issue from May to November of 2022. In November, the Policy Council formally recommended the proposal for adoption by the MMA Board of Trustees (BOT).
Prior to BOT consideration, the lengthy proposal was split into six sections and uploaded to The Pulse for member-wide feedback. The range of voting members across all proposal sections was 172 to 184. The range of “yes” vote percentages across all proposal sections was 91% to 98%.
The BOT also approved a policy proposal titled “Decriminalization of Simple Possession of Illicit Drugs” in December 2022. A Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) document on this proposal can be found here.
The Pulse, available only to MMA members, can be used to submit policy proposals for MMA consideration, vote on policy proposals prior to MMA Board action, and provide feedback on decisions made by the MMA Board.
If you have questions about the proposal, please contact Adrian Uphoff, health policy analyst.
May 29, 2025
As the Legislature works to complete its work on the state’s two-year budget, another deadline is looming. Legislators are required to pass a balanced budget before the end of the fiscal year—June 30, 2025. If they don’t meet that deadline, the state will begin a partial shutdown.
May 29, 2025
Registration has opened for the Empowering Physicians: A Night of Reflection and Engagement event, featuring best-selling author Elisabeth Rosenthal, MD.
May 29, 2025
The AMA is encouraging physicians to contact their U.S. senators and urge them to revise the reconciliation bill passed recently by the U.S. House of Representatives. While the bill includes language that would stabilize Medicare physician payments, it also threatens to cripple Medicaid and CHIP.