MAFP Presents 2009 Legislative Achievement Awards

-------------------------------------------------------------

MAFP leadership presents a 2009 Legislative Achievement Award to State Representative Maria Ruud at Park Nicollet Clinic-Brookdale.
(Pictured left to right: Virginia Barzan, C.A.E., MAFP Executive Vice President; Patricia Fontaine, M.D., MAFP President; Rep. Maria Ruud; Amy Bonifas, M.D.; Rosa Marroquin, M.D.; and Terry Stolhanske, Park Nicollet-Brookdale Clinic Manager)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

MAFP leadership presents a 2009 Legislative Achievement Award to State Representative Steve Gottwalt at the St. Cloud Medical Group - South Campus.
(Pictured left to right: Virginia Barzan, C.A.E., MAFP Executive Vice President; Kevin Donnelly, M.D.; Julie Anderson, M.D., MAFP Speaker of the House; Rep. Steve Gottwalt; Chris Tacl, M.D.; Patricia Fontaine, M.D., MAFP President; Larue Dahlquist, M.D.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

News Release:  Family Physicians Present Legislative Achievement Awards to Two State Lawmakers
August 18, 2009

The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) honored two state lawmakers for their work in the legislature.

On August 18, the Academy presented State Representatives Maria Ruud, (DFL) Minnetonka, and Steve Gottwalt, (R) St. Cloud, with 2009 Legislative Achievement Awards.  The award is presented to state or federal legislators dedicated to improving the health of patients, families and communities through health care policy that promotes patient-centered, comprehensive, and coordinated care.

MAFP President Patricia Fontaine, M.D., said that “In their years of service to the House of Representatives, both have proven themselves as strong advocates for primary care, family physicians and their patients.”

A nurse practitioner in obstetrics at Park Nicollet, Rep. Ruud is recognized for supporting legislation that promotes a health care system where all patients have access to affordable, high-quality health care. 

“This is exemplified through her work on medical interpreter legislation which mandates insurance coverage for interpreter services (HF 1211), health care home legislation, expansions to the MinnesotaCare program, and support for primary care services,” said Dr. Fontaine.

Rep. Ruud was first elected to the legislature in 2004.  She is a member of the Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee; Health Care and Human Services Finance Division; and the Licensing Division.

Rep. Gottwalt was elected in 2006.  He is a strong supporter of public health programs and was the chief author of the Republican health reform bill, which among other things, addresses cost-shifting in our public programs by paying market rates for physician services.  He is also member of the Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee; Health Care and Human Services Finance Division; as well as the Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Committee.

“Rep. Gottwalt’s work promotes a healthy citizenry, a strong market approach to health care delivery, and the need to address the ongoing problems caused by cost-shifting,” said Dr. Fontaine.  “It also recognizes the need to change payment incentives to primary care and care coordination.”