Resolutions—Guiding the Work of the Academy
Resolutions are written motions submitted by members to guide the work of Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) leadership and staff.
Resolutions are one of the main vehicles to drive action at the MAFP. Resolutions have directed the MAFP Board of Directors to start a Family Medicine OB Task Force and a Workforce Task Force, as well as to get more involved in a variety of public health issues such as gun violence prevention, the opioid crisis and racism.
The Resolution Process
Initial Review
A member (or group of members) submits a resolution, with supporting information, through the online submission form. MAFP leadership and staff review the resolution within the context of current strategic priorities and current and previous policies and initiatives to determine the best next step for the resolution.Resolution Forum Preparation
The resolution is published online and all MAFP members are invited to review the resolution and submit written commentary/testimony in support of or opposition to the resolution.
The Reference Committee (a representative group of peers) reviews the resolution in conjunction with submitted commentary/testimony and offers recommendations for next steps.
During the Resolution Forum
The Reference Committee presents the resolution with its recommendation (motion) as to what action should be taken—adopt, not adopt, refer to the board of directors or file for information.
Members attending the Resolution Forum discuss the recommendation of the Reference Committee (speaking for or against) and may suggest changes.
Members attending the Resolution Forum vote on an outcome for the resolution—adopt, not adopt, refer to the board of directors or file for information.
If a Resolution Is Adopted
When a resolution is adopted, it begins to guide the time, energy and resources of the MAFP leaders and staff.
Work begins soon after adoption to address the actionable goals of the resolution’s “Be It Resolved” statements, including planning, follow-up with key stakeholders, grassroots advocacy and much more.
MAFP committees, task forces and work groups may be involved in executing action on a resolution. Members are also invited and encouraged to contact legislators and get involved in other grassroots activities when applicable.
The resolution is published within the MAFP’s public online resolutions library. Updates and progress reports are shared with MAFP leadership during board meetings, published in the resolutions library, and shared at the MAFP annual meeting.
View Resolutions
View the resolutions library to search all resolutions (1999-2024) by year and/or topic category.
Read the latest resolution progress report.
Want information on resolutions not in the progress report or resolutions library? Have questions about a specific resolution? Contact us.
2024 Resolutions
2024-01. Support a Moratorium in Minnesota State Law on Private Equity Firms Owning or Operating Medical Services
The MAFP will support a legislatively sought moratorium on private equity in health care.
ADOPTED
2024-02. Health Care Which Is Affordable for Both the Individual and Society
A resolution in support of a single payer health care system.
FILED FOR INFORMATION
2024-03. Medication Abortion Access in Primary Care
The MAFP will support education to medication abortion in primary care.
ADOPTED
2024-04. Reducing Food Waste and Raising Awareness of Food Insecurity
The MAFP will work on the issue of food waste and insecurity.
ADOPTED
2024-05. Listening Devices Improve Quality of Life: Advocating for Medicare Coverage of Hearing Aids
The MAFP will support Medicare coverage of listening devices.
ADOPTED
2024-06. Health Savings Accounts and Direct Primary Care
A resolution in support of direct primary care and the use of health savings account to support DPC.
REFERRED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2024-07a. Increasing Availability of Affordable Housing in Minnesota
A resolution to support the MN Department Housing goals around affordable housing construction.
NOT ADOPTED
2024-07b. Increasing Availability of Affordable Housing in Minnesota
The MAFP will support access to affordable housing.
ADOPTED AS SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION
2024-08. Disaggregation of Population Health Data
The MAFP will support the disaggregation of population health date.
ADOPTED
2024-09. Cease Fire in Gaza
A resolution to publicly support and educate members on a cease fire in Gaza.
REFERRED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2024-10. Amendments to the MAFP Bylaws
The MAFP will amend bylaws to allow the board of directors to make future changes.
ADOPTED
2023 Resolutions
2023-00. MAFP Dues Increase
The MAFP will increase dues for Active members by $25.00 effective with 2024 dues (for total annual MAFP dues of $350.00 for Active members).
ADOPTED
2023-01. Insulin for All: Make Affordable Insulin a Reality
The MAFP will advocate legislatively for access to insulin and insulin affordability programs.
ADOPTED AS AMENDED
2023-02. Encouraging Access to Medication Therapy Management Services
The MAFP will support collaboration between family physicians and pharmacists.
ADOPTED
2023-03. Restore Patient Protection Laws
The MAFP will investigate the MN corporate practice of medicine laws and suggest improvement in 2024.
ADOPTED AS SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION
2023-04. Live Interpreters
The MAFP Board of Directors will consider live interpreter payment and seeking areas for improvement.
REFERRED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2023-05. Recognizing Access to Civil Legal Aid Services as a Social Determinant of Health
The MAFP will advocate that access to civil legal aid services is a social determinent of health and will submit a resolution to the AAFP Congress of Delegates to do the same.
ADOPTED AS SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION
2023-06. Abolish Slavery and/or Involuntary Servitude from the Minnesota Constitution
The MAFP will advocate for the removal of slavery and/or involuntary serviitude from the Minnesota Constitution and as criminal punishment.
ADOPTED AS AMENDED
2023-07. Modifying Physician Compensation to Improve the Fiscal Responsibility, Quality of Care and Equity in Our Developing Medical Systems
The MAFP would advocate to change the model to provide compensation based on diagnosis or diagnoses addressed and the type of care provided.
FILED FOR INFORMATION
2023-08. Advocate for a Level Playing Field for Independent Physician Practices
The MAFP Board of Directors will consider addressing restrictive covenant and provider-based billing and seeking opporutnities for additional advocacy.
REFERRED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2023-09. Advocate for Individual Tax Deductibility as an Option
The MAFP would advocate for legislation to have individual health care cost deductibility instead of employer health deductibility as an individual option and ask the AAFP to do the same.
NOT ADOPTED
2023-10. Eliminate Chargemaster Fees
The MAFP would support the elimination of chargemaster fees and replace write-offs and billing for the uninsured at Medicare fee rates and ask the AAFP to do the same.
NOT ADOPTED
2023-11. Eliminate Restrictions on Medical Care Capital Expenditures
The MAFP Board of Directors will consider addressing a moratorium on and MDH restriction on capital expendures in health care.
REFERRED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2023-12. Expand Personal Health Care Options
The MAFP would advocate expanding personal health care options to create a friendly medical care marketplace and ask the AAFP to do the same.
NOT ADOPTED
2023-13. Health Care Data Privacy and Unnecessary Testing
The MAFP would encourage patients to use apps to download their medical records and ask the AAFP to consider developing an app for patient use.
NOT ADOPTED
2023-14. Reduce Administrative Burdens on Physicians
The MAFP would study ways in which administrative burdens on physicians could be reduced and bring any recommendations to the 2024 MAFP House of Delegates.
NOT ADOPTED
Take Action: Write a Resolution
Resolution Writing Tips
Resolution Writing Tools
- View our advocacy module Setting MAFP Policy/Direction via Resolutions.
- View our Example Resolution.
- Use our Resolution Preparation Worksheet to compose and prepare your resolution for submission via the online submission form. (Please note: Resolutions will only be accepted through the online submission form.)
“Whereas” and “Resolved” Statements
“Whereas” statements simply explain the problem or situation.
“Resolved” statements clearly explain what action should be taken.
Don’t make it too complicated! One helpful method is to develop your “Resolved” statements first. This makes it easier to limit “Whereas” statements to relevant and necessary background information.
Tips for “Whereas” Statements
- Limit the number of whereas statements in your resolution (no more than 10).
- Avoid editorializing.
- You may support your whereas statements with additional information/references (up to 20).
Tips for “Resolved” Statements
- Write the resolved statement(s) first (no more than five).
- Limit each resolved statement to one action.
- Write each resolved statement to stand on its own, without reliance on any other resolved statement, the whereas statements or supporting information.
- Only call for action the Academy has some control over.
- You may support your resolved statements with additional information/references (up to 20).
Resolution Preparation Worksheet
Use our Resolution Preparation Worksheet to compose and prepare your resolution for submission via the online submission form.
Example Resolution
The following example resolution was adopted on May 18, 2024.
Listening Devices Improve Quality of Life: Advocating for Medicare Coverage of Hearing Aids
Marjan Jahani Kondori, MD; Sara Robinson, MD
WHEREAS the cost of hearing aids ranges between $1000-$6000 per pair, which can be cost prohibitive[1];
WHEREAS Medicare does not provide coverage for hearing aids or for exams for hearing aid fittings[2];
WHEREAS, in 2023, Minnesota lawmakers passed Minnesota Statute 62Q.675, stating that a health plan must cover hearing aids for all individuals for hearing loss that is not correctable by other covered procedures (but does not affect self-insured plans or Medicare)[3];
BE IT RESOLVED that the MAFP create a resolution to present at the AAFP Congress of Delegates that the AAFP will advocate for Medicare coverage for hearing aids.
1. Rowden, A., Iskander, A., Dresden, D., & Davenport, S. (2023, July 28). How much do hearing aids cost in 2023?. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cost-of-hearing-aids#benefits.
2. Hearing aids. Medicare. (n.d.). https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hearing-aids.
3. Important hearing aid news. Deaf and Hard of Hearing. (2023, November 1). https://mn.gov/deaf-hard-of-hearing/about-us/news-and-events/?id=1121-596197.
Testimony – why this resolution is important to family physicians
Submit a Resolution
Resolutions are due by March 2, 2025, for the 2025 Resolution Forum.
Questions about resolutions or the process for resolution submission/adoption? Or want to reach out to MAFP staff outside the resolution process about advocacy? Contact us.
