Minnesota Hospital Association

Newsroom

March 19, 2018

MHA Newsline: March 19, 2018

In this issue 

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato works to reduce local hunger by supporting BackPack Food Program

More than 900 Mankato-area students receive weekend food packs through the BackPack Food Program to reduce hunger and ensure they’re ready to learn when they get back to school. Mayo Clinic Health System has been partnering with the program for the past three years, donating time and dollars to support this important initiative.  

“We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing commitment of Mayo Clinic Health System,” said Sheri Sander-Silva, executive director of Feeding Our Communities Partners. “It’s rare and wonderful to find a partner that is willing to offer support on so many levels. Mayo Clinic Health System employees volunteer for monthly food packing sessions and have adopted a school as a weekly distribution team. They also provide financial contributions that allow for the purchase of nutritional food items. Each component is integral to the success of the BackPack Food Program and our ability to feed hungry tummies.”   

Mayo Clinic Health System has been the primary financial contributor to the Winter Feed & Read program by providing $5,000 to purchase perishable food items for the long holiday break. This is a special winter break pack to get kids through the long holiday break and includes healthy perishable items like milk, bread and cheese sticks. Mayo Clinic Health System employee volunteers spend two days at BackPack Central giving out these winter break packs to families on the program.   

Visit the MHA website to learn more and read the full Community Benefit Reportreturn to top   

Legislative update

Last week the Legislature continued to advance the opioid stewardship fee legislation, SF 730 authored by Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Vernon City) and HF 1440 authored by Dave Baker (R-Willmar). The Senate’s Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee passed its version of the bill, sending the bill to full Senate Finance, with the stewardship fee as well as an increased licensure fee for drug manufacturers selling products in Minnesota. The House Health and Human Services Reform Committee removed the stewardship fee and replaced the potentially new revenue source with $20 million in general funds.   

MHA remains supportive of the stewardship fee as it is contained in the Senate bill; however, we are pleased that both the Senate and House continue to advance this important legislation with new funding to help address the opioid crisis in Minnesota. MHA’s Strengthening Healthy Communities campaign is running advocacy ads urging Minnesotans to contact their legislators in support of the opioid legislation.  

The first committee deadline of the session is March 22 at midnight. Bills must have been passed in all policy committees in at least one of the two legislative bodies to still be considered this legislative session.   

With questions, contact Mary Krinkie, vice president of government relations, MHA, 651-659-1465, or Kristin Loncorich, director of state government relations, MHA, 651-603-3526. 

Invite legislators to visit hospitals during spring recess
Legislators appreciate hearing from constituents about health care issues and issues affecting their community’s hospital. Please plan to invite local legislators to hospitals in their home districts for meetings during the legislative spring recess, March 30 – April 8. Use the grassroots matching list found on the MHA Member Center to contact your legislators’ offices as soon as possible to schedule a visit.   

MHA’s legislative priorities are available online. Additional resources and information will be shared with chief executive officers and government relations officers by email.   

Session bill tracker
For a complete list of 2018 legislative bills MHA is tracking, visit the MHA Member Center. For assistance accessing the Member Center, contact Ashley Beno, member services and communications specialist, MHA, 651-603-3545. return to top   

MHA region meetings reminder

MHA staff encourages CEOs and hospital leadership to join us at our quarterly region meetings over the next two weeks. The schedule is: 

  • 11:30 a.m., March 20, St. Cloud Hospital Conference Center 
  • 12 p.m., March 21, RC Hospitals and Clinics, Olivia 
  • 9 a.m., March 23, New Ulm Medical Center 
  • 12 p.m., March 28, Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center 
  • 9 a.m., March 29, St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth 

Please RSVP to Dee Dee Heffernan, executive assistant, MHA, 651-603-3533. return to top

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