MN Legislative Update: Wins for Primary Care, Firearm Safety & Paid Leave

Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) lobbyist Dave Renner, CAE, shares an update on the legislative session.

The Minnesota Legislature is set to adjourn on May 22, 2023. With the time left in session, the bulk of the work is on finalizing the state’s budget and reconciling differences between the Senate and House in conference committees.

Work continues on the Health and Human Services budget as well as firearm safety legislation, a no-cost primary care study and paid family and medical leave.

AAFP Federal Advocacy Update, February 2023

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) federal advocacy team shares an update about their recent work, including responding to the public health emergency unwinding, addressing the primary care workforce shortage, endorsing the Kids’ Access to Primary Care Act, supporting policies addressing substance use disorders and more.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTEGRATION & PRIMARY CARE: WHY CARE IN TODAY’S WORLD REQUIRES A TEAM

Primary care physicians are well equipped to address and treat mental health concerns. Yet, many barriers exist to addressing these conditions adequately in a busy primary care clinic.

Enter: Integrated behavioral health models—a means to support physicians, address patient concerns and reduce barriers to the provision of mental health treatment.

Where do you get started? What steps can health care organizations and clinics take to improve mental and behavioral health care for their patients?

AAFP Federal Advocacy Team Update, July 2022

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) federal advocacy team shares an update about the release of the 2023 Medicare physician fee schedule, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act which has now become law, the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade and its negative impact on the patient-physician relationship, the current state of the COVID-19 public health emergency and what’s to come as well as delays for the Appropriate Use Criteria Program.