History - 2000

Individuals - 684

Membership
After surviving the potential Y2K problems, MMGMA began the 21st Century with 684 members and move forward with a goal to provide our members support both professionally and personally.

Winter Conference
On March 6th and 7th, with temperatures in the 70's, the Winter Conference was held at the Radisson South. With the theme, "The MMGMA Championship Challenge – Staying at the Top of Your Games as the Rules Change", 452 members and exhibitors attended the meeting which had the purpose of acknowledging and encouraging members of MMGMA as champions and also to address our challenges in health care as we begin a new century of service and administration. Seventy exhibitors supported the event. Mike Hatch, the Minnesota Attorney General, attended our breakfast meeting and spoke about the 2000 Legislative Issues. The main speaker was Phillip Van Hooser who spoke on Leadership in a Changing Environment . The planning committee consisted of Terry Mitchell and Mel Sullivan as co-chairs, and committee members Michael Dunn, Joanne Stadnik, Diane Murray, Jane Honigman, Brenda Ekhaml, Pat Hallen, Martha Conway, Jackie Hayes, Pat Kaufman, Sue Hagen, Maria Huntley and Helen Chanak.

Retirement
Bud Olson, FACMPE and John Ostrander, FACMPE were awarded the MMGMA Lifetime Plaque. Bud retired from the Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology in December, 1999, 19 years to the date of his first day of work there. Bud had a very successful career in medical administration. As a MMGMA member, Bud contributed significantly by volunteering to be the ACMPE Liaison and a MMGMA Board Member.

John Ostrander, FACMPE retired from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester after 36 years and a variety of departments and roles. John was the first director of the international division at the Mayo clinic. John was the 1987 president of MMGMA and the 1991-1992 MGMA Midwest Section President.

These individuals have been dedicated and committed to the MMGMA organization.

Restructuring
The MMGMA Executive Committee requested a restructuring for the Government Affairs functions. The MMGMA Board approved the development of a Government Affairs Chair position. The Chairperson will supervise the contract with and the performance of the legal firm and the Government Affairs Consultant. The issues that the Government Affairs Committee focused on issues which included the repeal of the MN Care Sick Tax, contract stacking, silent amendments, lack of time for providers to review offered contracts and amendments, issues related to due process and language which may adversely affect he patient's continuity and quality of care.

Web Page Development
At a January Executive Committee Meeting, the committee voted that we should move forward with the MMGMA Web Page development. The components of the web page would include general MMGMA information, a link to MGMA, legislative updates both federal and state, third party liaison updates, the quarterly MMGMA newsletter, exhibitor listing, sponsorship section, new members listing, committee membership lists, hot topics, chat room, job listing for both searching and advertising. The website address is www.mmgma.org .

Summer Meeting
After two years of negotiating and over 14 months of planning, the Minnesota MMGMA / Midwest Section 2000 Summer Meeting took place in sunny Duluth, MN July 30, July 21 and August 1. We had a successful conference with 308 attendees, 181 exhibit booth attendees and 86 exhibitors. The theme was Finding Your Path: A Travel Guide to Healthcare's Winding Roads. The conference planning committee was lead by Shari Ohland and Sandy Kamin. Their committee included Deb Hecimovich, Steve Gerberding, Diane Pfaffly, Carolyn Dreeland, Marilyn Sabanjo, Jane Honigman, Mary Ellen Schaefer, Susan Santema, Janet Toensing, Sue Haugen, Jane Skalsky and Maria Huntley.
The MGMA President, Dr. Bill Jessee attended the meeting.

Educational Meetings
In response to the membership focus groups, there were four half-day educational conferences throughout the State on "Chart Audits".

(Note: President Bonnie Francisco was known as Bonnie Saurer at the time of her presidency.)