Minnesota Medical Association

The MMA has formally requested that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota (BCBS MN) reconsider three of its publicly posted reimbursement policies that reduce physician payment for same-day services. “The rationale provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield for their payment reduction policy does not hold up to scrutiny,” said MMA President Edwin Bogonko, MD, MBA.?“The policy is harmful to physicians and duplicates reductions that have already been accounted for by the RUC.” Read more on these policies below. #PhysicianWellbeing #Advocacy #PolicyChange

MMA member John Schmitz, MD, is the recipient of the 2024 Rural Health Hero Practitioner Award. Schmitz is director of Behavioral Health with CentraCare. In his role, Schmitz oversees current services and plans for the future, and in his clinical work as a psychiatrist, he brings wellness, dignity, and care to people who are the most vulnerable in society. For more information, visit the 2024 Minnesota Rural Health Awards website: https://lnkd.in/gyGUfPJe

Congratulations to MMA member Kelly Morrison, MD, for winning a seat in the US House of Representatives! Morrison is the first physician from Minnesota to serve in Congress. Read more about Minnesota election results here: https://ow.ly/J1rx50U4nei #Advocacy #PublicHealth #HealthcareReform

Did you know that hospital and clinic administration often sponsor their physicians' MMA memberships? Here is why the CEO of Mankato Clinic, Randy Farrow, renews memberships on their physicians' behalf: “Ensuring our physicians have the resources and support they need is a top priority. The MMA has been an invaluable partner in helping us navigate the complex landscape of healthcare. Their advocacy on critical issues like prior authorizations and administrative burdens allows our physicians to focus on patient care rather than paperwork. We renew our physicians MMA memberships every?year because it directly benefits both our physicians and the overall quality of care we provide.” - Randy Farrow, CEO, Mankato Clinic ?? Check in with your administration today to see if this is an option for your organization. #PatientCare #PhysicianWellbeing #QualityofCare

? Coming up soon: Please join us today, Monday, November 18, at 5 pm for the virtual workshop "Reckoning with Racism in Medicine.” Discrimination in the workplace is associated with negative implications relating to career advancement and satisfaction, physical and mental health, well-being, and burnout. Efforts to create inclusive and equitable environments must acknowledge the harmful effects of racism, microaggressions, and implicit bias. Registration and more information can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ghz-7q8V #PhysicianWellbeing #Equity #RacismInMedicine

Today is National Injury Prevention Day, a time to raise awareness of the leading cause of childhood death: firearm injury. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for children and teens under the age of 18, and about 85% of firearm deaths in children younger than 13 occur in the home. If you decide to keep guns in your home, you can reduce the risk to your child by safely storing your firearms. Experts agree that safe firearm storage practices include all three of these measures, in combination: 1. Unload the ammunition. 2. Lock the firearm. 3. Store the firearm and ammunition in separate locations. ?? Please share this to help spread the message! #NationalInjuryPreventionDay #SafeStorage #GunSafety source: American Academy of Pediatrics

Please join us for the virtual workshop, "Reckoning with Racism in Medicine,” on Monday, November 18, at 5 pm. This interactive workshop will include a series of interviews from local physicians, like this snippet featuring Dr. Dionne Hart. Registration and more information can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ghz-7q8V #PhysicianWellbeing #Equity #RacismInMedicine

The Medical Student Section (MSS) is currently recruiting medical students to serve as MSS representatives (and alternates) on MMA policy committees. The committees include: ?? Equity in Access & Quality ?? Ethics and Medical-Legal Affairs ?? Public Health The MSS Executive Committee will review applications during late December 2024/early January 2025; committee terms are one year and start January 1. If you are interested in applying, complete the committee interest form here: https://ow.ly/zx4J50TYTEC

Please join us tomorrow, Friday, November 15 at noon, as we delve into the impact of social media on teens. The session will be led by Joshua Stein, MD, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at PrairieCare. This forum is free for MMA members, but registration is required. Go here to register: https://ow.ly/rUf450TYSY4 #PhysicianForum #TeenMentalHealth #DigitalHealth

Edwin Bogonko, MD, MBA, president of MMA, would like to invite you to join us in our efforts to improve working conditions for Minnesota physicians. Join here: https://lnkd.in/gJUnyi-w #Advocacy #StrongerTogether