2008 House of Delegates Report

Remembering Champions of Rural Family Medicine
Resolutions were unanimously adopted to commemorate Lyle Munneke, M.D. and Jack Verby, M.D.

Pushing Congress for Reinstatement of Economic Hardship Deferment
Letters will be written to the Minnesota Congressional Delegation describing the MAFP’s strong support for reinstatement of the 20/220 pathway for Economic Hardship Deferment for physicians entering primary care specialty training.  A similar resolution will be brought to AAFP.

Electronic Medical Database
The MAFP will work with state and national medical and governmental entities in defining the essential components of an electronic medical database that can be accessed at every medical encounter by any health care provider.

Preservation of Health Care Access Fund
The MAFP will continue to support MMA’s legislation that would create a Health Care Access Fund Oversight Commission to oversee the appropriate distribution of the HCAF.

New Financial Model
The MAFP will work in collaboration with other primary care specialty organizations, with the intent of developing criteria and guidelines for new physician payment structures that could co-exist with the current fee-for-service framework and would be provided to any practice that is officially designated as meeting the criteria of a Medical Home, such as:

1)  a Patient Management Fee, which would provide reimbursement on a per-member-per-month basis for that physician whom any patient designates as their personal physician and,

2)  a Chronic Disease Management Fee, which would provide reimbursement on a per-member-per-month basis to the medical home for the longitudinal care of patients with either mental or physical chronic disease, and

3)  continued improvement in the current system of Pay for Performance for achieving quality.

Establishing a Primary Care Coalition
Work will continue on the establishment of a primary care coalition with general pediatricians, general internists, and osteopathic physicians to work on common clinical interests and political needs and developing leadership for transforming the practice of primary care in Minnesota.

Improving Health Through Sustainable Food Purchasing
The MAFP will encourage hospitals to adopt policies and implement practices that increase the purchasing and serving of food that promotes health and prevents disease.

We will recognize and publicize those organizations that serve as healthy role models by participating in and promoting a healthier and more sustainable food system that improves eating habits, increases patient and public health, and supports the long-term social, economic, and environmental well-being of communities in Minnesota and throughout the world.