Registration Now Open for Physicians’ Day at the Capitol on February 19

December 5, 2024

Registration is now open for Physicians’ Day at the Capitol, when physicians and physicians-in-training from across the state gather at the Capitol to advocate on behalf of medicine. 

The annual get-together on February 19 will include a presentation from a key lawmaker and most importantly, scheduled meetings with the legislators in your district. 

“This is organized medicine’s chance to really make a difference at the Capitol,” said MMA President Edwin Bogonko, MD, MBA. “Physicians need to meet with representatives and senators to make sure they understand how the legislation they are considering will affect our patients and how we practice medicine in Minnesota.” 

The MMA’s legislative priorities for the 2025 session include:  

1. Increasing Medical Assistance (MA, Minnesota’s Medicaid program) and MinnesotaCare payments. Currently, MA reimburses at a rate of between 60 and 70% of Medicare, and only 30% of commercial payers. The MMA is proposing a way to maximize federal matching funds to pay for this increase through an assessment on managed care organizations. If it receives federal approval, it will limit the cost to the state’s general fund.  

2. Prohibiting formulary changes during a contract year by health plans and pharmacy benefit managers. Patients often choose their insurance based on whether the plan covers their medications. Unexpected changes in a drug formulary can not only increase out-of-pocket costs, but they can also compromise patient health if patients cannot access their medications. The proposal also requires payers to use a real-time benefit tool that informs prescribers what is covered and what is not. Similar to the MA payment increases, this legislative priority will have a large price tag.  

3. Funding the POLST (Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) registry that was recommended by the Minnesota Department of Health. This recommendation followed legislation promoted by the MMA two years ago directing a study of the issue. This will develop the education needed to begin the phased-in implementation of the registry.   

4. Focusing on the continued effort to address physician wellness. In addition to removing administrative burdens that lead to burnout, the MMA will pursue funding for the “Breaking Barriers in Health-Seeking" campaign started through a health department grant. This campaign is designed to reduce the stigma related to seeking care and make it easier for physicians to seek help when they need it.   

5. Continuing coverage for audio-only telehealth services. When the telehealth law first passed, the Legislature put a sunset on audio-only coverage to ensure it was meeting the needs of patients. That sunset is currently scheduled for June 30, 2025. A recent state study shows that telehealth has been a useful tool for both patients and providers across Minnesota, including the use of audio-only services.