Minnesota Academy of Family Physician member and Aquí Para Ti / Here for You medical director Maria Veronica Svetaz, MD, MPH, compiled a resource list, covering her latest published work on adolescent health and health equity, to share with Minnesota family physicians. Most of these pieces are open access.
MAFP Foundation President Rosa Marroquin, MD, shares new priorities and areas of impact for the MAFP Foundation, our philanthropic arm, working to advance family medicine and improve the health outcomes of ALL Minnesotans.
As Minnesota’s family physicians, we stand with our communities and wish to be a part of the work dismantling structural racism and discriminatory institutional practices. Racism is a public health crisis. We are committed to addressing racism and supporting our physician members by providing useful resources, advocacy and education.
Key issues pursued by the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians that passed in the 2020 Minnesota Legislative Session included Tobacco 21, prior authorization reform, drug price transparency, emergency and affordable insulin program, scope of practice provisions and COVID-19 response legislation. Read our session recap from legislative rep Dave Renner, CAE, for a more detailed session summary.
The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians wants to arm family docs across Minnesota with the tools and resources to reach out to legislators, the media and your communities about how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting primary care. See sample talking points, story/messaging tips and additional resources to help you advocate for the proper financial infrastructure and support for our front line healthcare workers and clinics.
Under its new “normal,” the Minnesota legislature continues to only act on bills that have been agreed to by all four of the legislative caucuses. Our legislative rep Dave Renner, CAE, provides updates on an insulin relief package, additional COVID-19 relief and reimbursement for Child and Teen Checkups.
Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians leader Deb Dittberner, MD, MBA, helps us separate fact from fiction on some commonly asked questions about COVID-19.
You may have heard the COVID-19 pandemic, with its obvious widespread effects, referred to as “the great equalizer.” But, like every public health crisis throughout history, COVID-19 is NOT an equalizer of disparities and inequity; it is a magnifier.
Native American communities face a number of health disparities, including lack of access to healthcare, and are likely to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians member Mary J. Owen, MD, who is director of the Center of American Indian and Minority Health, is seeking interested physicians to provide care at Tribal sites.
The need for robust primary care has never been greater, and the consequences of the way primary care is under-valued and poorly reimbursed are on full display. We urge health systems and payers to take the steps necessary to preserve, build and advocate for a strong primary care infrastructure, especially now.
