Physician Volunteer Opportunities Available with State

October 26, 2023

Minnesota physicians have several opportunities to serve on health-oriented state councils or committees.  

Opportunities include: 

Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Council 

Vacancy: Two members representing healthcare providers; oncologist who is not employed by, under contract with, or otherwise affiliated with a hospital 

Powers and Duties: The governor shall appoint an 18-member stakeholder advisory council to provide advice to the board on drug cost issues and to represent stakeholders' views. The governor shall appoint the members of the advisory council based on the members' knowledge and demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas: the pharmaceutical business; practice of medicine; patient perspectives; healthcare cost trends and drivers; clinical and health services research; and the healthcare marketplace. 

Meeting Information: Public meetings at least every three months 

Prescription Drug Affordability Board 

Vacancy: Seven voting members appointed by the governor; one non-voting member appointed by the majority leader of the senate; one non-voting member appointed by the Speaker of the House. All members appointed must have knowledge and demonstrated expertise in pharmaceutical economics and finance or healthcare economics and finance. A member must not be an employee of, a board member of, or a consultant to a manufacturer or trade association for manufacturers, or a pharmacy benefit manager or trade association for pharmacy benefit managers. 

Powers and Duties: The commissioner of commerce shall establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, which shall be governed as a board under section 15.012, paragraph (a), to protect consumers, state and local governments, health plan companies, providers, pharmacies, and other healthcare system stakeholders from unaffordable costs of certain prescription drugs. 

Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) Benefit Advisory Group 

Vacancy: One physician or developmental pediatrician with experience in screening and/or diagnosing children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related conditions; three providers of Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) or comprehensive multi-disciplinary evaluation (CMDE) services. 

Powers and Duties: The EIDBI benefit is a medical benefit in Minnesota first offered in 2016 under Medicaid (Medical Assistance). The EIDBI benefit is available to people under age 21 with a diagnosis of ASD and/or related conditions and who are eligible for Medical Assistance. Related conditions include, but are not limited to, Asperger's Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorders, pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), and Rett Syndrome. 

The advisory group meets four times per year; since May 2020, all meetings have been virtual. The advisory group is consulted on the ongoing development of EIDBI policies and standards and on the implementation of the EIDBI benefit. Members are expected to share information with and seek input from organizations and networks they are affiliated with that support persons with autism and related conditions to broaden the input the advisory group provides to DHS and the information DHS wants to share with children and families living with ASD and related conditions.   

The EIDBI Advisory Group was created by the Department of Human Services (DHS) in 2017; its 32 members serve two-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms. Membership categories include people with ASD or a related condition, parents of people under age 21 with ASD or a related condition, current EIDBI providers, psychologists, behavior professionals, and other licensed professionals; academics, county/tribe/managed care representatives, and state agency representatives. A few positions are direct appointments, but most are open, competitive appointments. 

Meeting Information: Quarterly virtual meetings, two hours long, during a weekday. 

Rural Health Advisory Committee 

Vacancy: One health professional or advocate with experience working with people with mental illness. 

Powers and Duties: The Rural Health Advisory Committee (RHAC) advises the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health and other state agencies on rural health issues. The committee regularly reviews and determines priority issues affecting health and healthcare in rural Minnesota, develops recommendations, and supports a systematic and cooperative approach to rural health. In the past year, RHAC released a report on crisis mental healthcare titled “Recommendations on Strengthening Mental Health Care in Rural Minnesota,” took part in a primary care coalition, and convened panel discussions on EMS sustainability and listening sessions on COVID-19 in rural Minnesota. Other current priority issues identified by the committee include aging in rural areas, long term care, and telehealth. 

Meeting Information: Five times per year in person. 

Interested applicants should submit their applications to the Secretary of State. For more information or to apply, visit the Secretary of State website.