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Legislative Update
The 2018 legislative session began on Tuesday, February 20. As is customary on the first day of session, it was a mostly ceremonial affair. The pace quickly accelerated after the first day, with many committees holding hearings in the days that followed. The months since the last legislative session ended have been filled with contentious debates about the funding for the legislature, sexual harassment charges against members of both chambers and both parties, and controversy around the role of the new Lt. Governor. Following Sen. Franken’s resignation from the US Senate, Gov. Dayton appointed his Lt. Governor, Tina Smith, to fill the seat. Per the Minnesota State Constitution, the sitting President of the Senate, Michelle Fischbach (R - Paynesville) was automatically elevated to Lt. Governor, pairing Democratic Gov. Dayton with a Republican Lt. Governor. Senate DFL members have argued that she cannot serve in both the Executive and Legislative branches of the government. This issue is likely to end up in the courts. A major piece of the legislative puzzle will become clear later this month when the state’s fiscal status is announced. With most observers anticipating a surplus, the Legislature may have some breathing room to pursue tax cuts or new spending. One of the dominant issues of the 2018 session will be an effort to bring Minnesota’s tax structure into compliance with the federal government, a task made more consequential because of the federal tax cuts passed late last year. Key Issues for the MAO to Watch As the 2018 session opens, the MAO will be monitoring a number of health-care issues for their possible impact on otolaryngologist and the patients they serve. Opioid abuse, addiction, and overdoses continue to be a major priority for legislators. Recent legislative sessions have seen action to create more disposal sites for unused medication, new guidelines for prescribing for patients served by public programs, and dose limits for dental and ophthalmic pain. The MAO will work with legislators to support those efforts that have demonstrated success, including work to embed the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program into clinics’ electronic health records. Additionally, the MAO will lobby in support of new funding for addiction treatment, as well as support for patient and prescriber education. The MAO will also be advocating for passage of bills to allow minors to consent to HPV vaccines. Current law allows minors to consent to certain medical decisions without parental involvement, including pregnancy or drug/alcohol abuse, and to receive a hepatitis B immunization. The bills face long odds in both the House and Senate, unfortunately. Additionally, the MAO will continue to work to ensure repeal of the provider tax, scheduled for 2020. While the governor and many DFL legislators will be advocating for its extension, repeal will likely remain on track this year. The 2019 legislative session will likely see more serious discussions of heath care financing. “White Coats Day” at the Capitol Set for March 14 Make plans to join your physician colleagues for the annual Minnesota Medical Association’s Day at the Capitol set for March 14. This day of advocacy and fellowship is an important effort in advancing policies that help physicians and patients, and is a great opportunity for you to directly engage with your legislators on the issues facing organized medicine. Following presentation from key legislative leaders, individual meetings will be scheduled for you and your local colleagues with your senator and representative. The “White Coats Day” at the Capitol is a key piece of the organized medicine’s advocacy strategy, and your participation is important to our efforts. Please make plans to join us for this fun and enjoyable day. More information and registration details are available here.
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