2007 House of Delegates Report

Led by Speaker Gerald Jensen, M.D., and Vice Speaker Terence Cahill, M.D., the 2007 House of Delegates directed the MAFP to improve access to dental care and develop a plan for marketing the Medical Home concept.  Dynamic changes to the MAFP governance structure will focus on timely communication and enhanced representation.

Dental Access
The MAFP Board of Directors has been charged to develop recommendations to support efforts to improve access to dental care, especially for the uninsured.
 

Supporting Shingles Vaccine as a Medicare Part B Benefit
So that family physician offices can be directly reimbursed for the cost of the vaccine as well as the administration of the vaccine, the MAFP will support efforts to reclassify adult varicella zoster vaccine as a Medicare Part B benefit.
 

Medical Home Marketing Plan
Working with consultants as needed, the MAFP will develop a campaign strategy for marketing the Medical Home concept to relevant players in Minnesota.  As part of the plan, some marketing tools will be developed that can be used by individual MAFP members and which are specific to individual markets, including but not restricted to, the following audiences:  the general public, governmental entities, the business community, family physicians, other primary care physicians, other non-primary care physicians, and other non-physician medical personnel.  A report on the outcomes of the plan will be provided to the 2008 House of Delegates.

Recognition
Resolutions were unanimously adopted to commend Richard D. Mulder, M.D., and commemorate the late Edward W. Ciriacy, M.D., for their dedication and service to family medicine and the citizens of Minnesota.

MAFP Restructured
The House approved Bylaws amendments to implement recommendations of the Governance Review Task Force and the Academic Affairs Committee.

• A second alternate student director position has been created.  Now a student from each academic location (University of Minnesota – Duluth, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and Mayo Clinic College of Medicine) will fill one of the three student leadership positions.

• A new Practice Enhancement and Patient Advocacy Committee will combine the roles of the External Affairs Committee and the Future of Family Medicine Task Force and also be the lead committee in advocating for the medical home concept.

• The Communications Committee is now the Public Relations and Marketing Committee. 
   
• Ways and Means Committee became the Membership and Members Services Committee.

• The Research Committee will add quality improvement to its charge and serve as a resource to Minnesota family physicians in the areas of quality improvement and quality measurement activities that impact their practices.
  
  
• In 2008, a new Officer-at-Large position will replace the Vice President position.  Nominations for the new position will be sought from local chapters.

Members are encouraged to consider being active in these new committees.  Contact the MAFP office with questions and interest.