Allina Health Physicians Vote to Authorize Strike
July 9, 2026
More than 130 Allina Health hospital physicians represented by Doctors Council SEIU voted last week, by a 90% margin, to authorize a strike after nearly two years of bargaining.
MMA Supports Bill to Take on Prior Auth Abuse by Medicare Advantage Plans
June 13, 2024
The MMA has signed on to support federal bipartisan legislation that would tackle the overuse and abuse of prior authorization (PA) by Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.
Introduced June 12, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care (Seniors’) Act, is co-sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Betty McCollum and has the support of more than 380 organizations and 42 senators and 130 house members.
The bill would codify and enhance elements of the Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes (e-PA) rule that was finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on January 17, 2024.
In efforts to promote swift passage in Congress, the bill sponsors made modest adjustments to the legislation to align with CMS’ final e-PA rule and to reduce the Congressional Budget Office score. Changes include a requirement for CMS to issue a report on implementing real-time decisions, an analysis on enrollee impact, and clarifying CMS’s authority to modify the timeframes for making PA determinations.
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MMA Launches New Program to Strengthen Physician Well-being
July 9, 2026
The MMA is launching a new program, exclusive to members, to strengthen physician well-being, reduce professional isolation, build a culture of connection, and foster sustained peer connections over time.
State Pursuing Medicaid Expansion to Treat Incarcerated People
July 9, 2026
Minnesota is pursuing a new initiative that, if approved by the federal government, will allow state Medicaid programs to cover certain behavioral health services and medical care for chronic health conditions for incarcerated people, for up to 90 days before release.