History - 1987

Head & Neck Physicians & Surgeons Group was founded in St. Paul in 1987.

Leadership for the Minnesota association in 1987 included President Susan Williams, Vice President John Ostrander, Secretary Marge Canning, Treasurer Jim Wilkus, Legislative Liaisons Jean Trygstad and Curt Nielsen, Third Party Liaisons Jo Bertram and Bonnie Porte, MMA Liaisons Brad Stoneking and Suzette Biskey, Education, William Amery and Bob Scott, Exhibits, Tim Wieben; Membership, Bob Bergstrom and Dan Grosskopf; Advisory Board of Blue Cross/Blue Shield David Adams; newsletter assigned to the Vice President, John Ostrander.

The Winter Conference was held from February 5-7, 1987, at the Minneapolis Marriott, with Co-Chairs Suzette Biskey and Helen Chanak.  Registration of members was 210 with 32 guests out of a total membership of 339.  The Summer Conference was held August 12-14, 1987, at Cragun's Resort in Brainerd.  Curt Nielsen was the coordinator.  Registration was 95 members out of an estimated 355 total membership.  Bunny Iverson and Tim Wieben handled the exhibits of which there were 37 at $275 each at the winter meeting and 34 (at a rate of $225 per exhibit and $75 per person) at the summer meeting.

Reviewing the Minnesota Association's actions and deliberations, we noted a large increase in written committee reports to the Board.  Notable actions, issues:

• Third Party Liaison:  several changes effective January 1, 1987, including providers must decide whether to be Medicare participating physicians (agreeing to accept assignment) or nonparticipating (receiving 96 percent of the reimbursement rate allowed participating physicians);

• Legislative Liaison:  podiatrists seeking licenses; social workers and others seeking direct reimbursement; Congress and Administration looking to relative value scales (RVS) and mandatory assignment to curtail costs;

• Education:  December and January seminars were very popular and will be repeated; discussing new video on collections;

• Membership:  categories -- Board consensus to recommend to membership that MMGMA conform to new definitions of MGMA; life membership for Frank Wilkus; 355 members (August 12, 1993);

• Newsletter:  several more sponsors interested; agree to take employment ads;

• MGMA Capital Development Fund:  MMGMA will support Midwest Section program and contribute an additional $15,000; and

• Officers' terms:  annual changeover at close of the MMGMA annual Summer Meeting, permitting new officers to prepare for MGMA Annual Meeting.
  

On October 3, 1986, William Amery, Chairman of the Education Committee, directed to the MMGMA Board an "initial outline -- MMGMA produced collections videocassette."  This is a thoughtful paper, a good example of an orderly approach to exploring and designing a videotape for training in the area of collections.  A generous additional comment is noted:  "Mayo audiovisual facilities and support will be made available at cost."

Cash balance on January 1, 1987, was $24,810 and for September 30, 1987, $39,937.

One hundred twenty-five Minnesota groups belonged to MGMA according to MGMA's 1986-1987 directory.

The 61st Annual Conference of MGMA was held October 25-28, 1987, at the Sheraton Washington hotel in Washington, under the direction of President John E. McCutcheon, FACMGA, of Canada.  Official registration was 1,474 members and 333 spouses and guests for a total of 1,807. The ACMGA President in this year was Francis A. Manning, FACMGA, from the Oshsner Clinic in New Orleans.

Stan E. Salzman was President of the Midwest Section when they held their 26th Annual Conference on July 19-22, 1987, at Grand Traverse, Mich.  One hundred ninety-one members were registered.  Midwest membership stood at 1,838, still second to the Southern Section.  Nationally the membership was 7,313.