February 2, 2023
A bill that would encourage open and honest communication between a provider and a patient following an adverse event was introduced at the Capitol on February 1.
HF 1181 (Norris, DFL – Blaine) would establish the CANDOR (Communication and Optimal Resolution) process in Minnesota. This is a legislative priority for the MMA. As part of the bill, any communications and documents that are created for purposes of resolving an adverse event within the process are protected from discovery, permitting participants to communicate candidly about the adverse event.
The process encourages all sides to communicate directly so the events that led to the incident can be retraced and the knowledge collected to prevent the same scenario from happening to future patients. It also hopes to offer injured patients explanations for questions that otherwise often go unanswered.
The legislation does not mandate use of the CANDOR process; a patient can elect to proceed with traditional litigation at any time. However, in states that have implemented CANDOR, the average time spent to find resolution has been reduced from five years to one.
The House bill’s companion, SF 803 (Klein, DFL – Mendota Heights), has been introduced in the Senate and was referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.
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.