Call To Action–Policy & Advocacy Committee
Every day MNACEP members engage through their work the MNACEP Mission: To preserve health and save lives in Minnesota by promoting the highest quality of emergency medical care. Today, we ask MNACEP members to activate MNACEP’s Vision to be recognized as part of the health solution through legislative advocacy and highly engaged members.
Please consider participating in MNACEP’s 2018 Policy & Advocacy Committee. For additional information, or to participate on the committee, contact Shari Augustin.
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Policy and Advocacy Committee 2018 Topics
In an effort to establish sound policy decisions to present to the MN Legislature and other entities developing policy that impacts emergency departments.
Legislative Initiatives
- Working to secure bonding money for funding and development of Mental Health Crisis Centers to combat Emergency Department Boarding.
- Continue work on the Minnesota No-fault auto statute to secure a preferred payment pecking order for emergency care.
- Continue to work with the Legislature on funding to develop and integrate the Prescription drug-monitoring program into the Health Care Systems electronic medical records.
- Continue to advocate for funding to address the Opioid Epidemic. Continue to work on funding for substance abuse and other treatment programs.
- Continue to oppose placing into Statute the delivery of Medical Care by a Physician.
- Monitor for any Medicaid cuts in reimbursement that would impact Emergency Care.
- Continue to support and work with the Executive Branch and Legislature with resources in our MEPAC.
State Agency Policy Initiatives
- Work closely with the Minnesota Pharmacy Board on the implementation of the PMP/EMR Integration program.
- Work with the MN Department of Human Services task force on the Opioid epidemic and solutions to the epidemic.
Support Minnesota Emergency Physician Action Committee (MEPAC)
MNACEP Members: We are excited about the start-up of the new MNACEP sponsored political action committee, the Minnesota Emergency Physician Action Committee (MEPAC). The changing environment of health care and legislation effecting emergency medicine has made it essential that our voice be heard by Minnesota legislators. The purpose of the non-partisan MEPAC is to aid emergency physicians in the quality care of patients through influence on legislation. It is important for us as physicians to play a vital role in health care legislation affecting our practice in emergency medicine.
I hope that you will consider contributing any amount to the MEPAC in order that we can start this important process. Your contribution can be sent to:
Shari Augustin
Executive Director
MNACEP
6 Greenhaven Bay
Faribault, MN 55021
Thank you for your consideration,
Drew Zinkel, MD, FACEP
President, MNACEP
Current And Past Minnesota ACEP Legislative Initiatives Include:
1) Supported legislation passed by the House and Senate to stop a scheduled 4.4 percent cut to physician Medicare payments.
- Lobbying for legislative action to correct the flawed formula used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to set physician Medicare payment rates
2) Led the successful effort to overturn a CMS directive allowing states to limit the number of ED visits made by Medicaid recipients.
- Informed media of CMS action and its consequences
- Provided information to Senate leaders
- Brought together a coalition of hospital and physician groups to lobby against directive
3) Continuing to work for medical liability reform
- ACEP Board members agreed not to provide expert witness testimony
- Promoting ACEP policy on expert witness qualifications
4) Continue to work for solutions to the overcrowding crisis
- Developing policy paper with The Joint Commission organizations
- Co-sponsoring symposium with The Joint Commission seeking solutions
- Issued joint advisory with the American Hospital Association detailing immediate strategies to help ease overcrowding
- Initiated series of meetings in Washington, DC with The Joint Commission, AMA, and the American Public Health Association to develop strategies
- Successful lobbying effort to insure auto no fault remains a payer of EM services in MN
- Successful lobbying effort to keep the MN Trauma System intact
5) Representing emergency medicine on Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) task force that is developing a new methodology to eliminate the need for documentation guidelines.
In an effort to help the public and lawmakers understand the unique role of the emergency department team and to bolster support to overcome the many challenges we face, ACEP launched a campaign in May 2013 called “Saving Millions.” The campaign includes a series of print ads, radio messages and coordinated editorials in influential communications nationwide. To learn more, click on the “Saving Millions” banner above.