2005 House of Delgates Report

Delegates representing family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students from all over Minnesota met on April 20, 2005, to hear the latest about the Future of Family Medicine and the recommendations from MMA’s health care reform task force.  They also elected new officers and established or reaffirmed MAFP positions on health care or legislative issues.

MAFP Supports MMA Health Care Reform Proposal

The MAFP will support the recommendations and action plan presented in the MMA "Physicians’ Plan for a Healthy Minnesota” and create a work group to work in collaboration with the MMA to move forward with implementation.  The work group and the Future of Family Medicine Task Force will provide input on integrating the concepts of the Future of Family Medicine into the plan.

Resolutions were also adopted that the MAFP continue efforts to establish health care coverage for all Minnesotans, which is a key component of MMA’s plan, and that the MAFP lobby legislators and health care plans so that all dependent children under the age of 22 would be eligible for family insurance coverage regardless of college status.

Online Student Mentoring Program

The MAFP will explore the feasibility of establishing an online mentoring program that will connect Minnesota medical students with positive role models in family medicine.

Exploration of a Family Physician Advocate Position

A resolution was referred to the Board of Directors that proposed that the MAFP explore the feasibility of establishing a paid family physician advocate position that could be filled by one or more practicing family physicians under contract.  The Board will develop a draft position description, goals, and budget analysis, with a report back to the House of Delegates in 2006.

Promotion of Lactation Services

A resolution was adopted that the MAFP:

• Support and communicate a position that all Minnesota hospitals providing maternity care also provide lactation support services, preferably by formally-trained lactation consultants, and

• Bring a resolution to the MMA in support of full-spectrum lactation services at hospitals providing maternity care and support of reimbursement for such services by payers, and

• Initiate communication with the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Council of Health Plans, the Minnesota Hospital Association, the Minnesota Nurses Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics - Minnesota Chapter to discuss the importance (medically and financially) of improved lactation services, and

• Continue to promote the value of lactation support services to the public.

Importance of Physician Communication in Care of Hospitalized Patients

The MAFP will develop a position statement on the importance of communication between physicians about hospitalized patients, especially on admission and discharge from the hospital.   Further, the MAFP will encourage hospitals and medical staff to develop systems that consistently transfer clinical information between the hospital’s attending physician and the patient’s personal medical home both on admission to and discharge from the hospital.

Positions Reaffirmed

The following MAFP positions were reaffirmed through approval of the consent calendar.  The MAFP will continue to:

• Support passage of the “Freedom to Breathe Act” in its original form and any other legislative efforts to create a statewide ban on smoking in ALL public places.

• Support increases in tobacco taxes.

• Oppose efforts to use funds from the Health Care Access Fund for purposes other than originally intended.

• Oppose budgetary cuts that affect low income and uninsurable patient access to care.

• Oppose increasing restrictions to eligibility for public insurance programs.

• Encourage its membership to be in contact with local legislators regarding health care budget issues.

Proposal to End Foundation Dues Allocation Not Adopted

The majority of delegates voted against a resolution that would have phased out the $20 dues allocation to the MAFP Foundation.