Meeting Notes Oct 7 2009

PNHP-MN Steering Committee Meeting
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Strommen Building St. Paul

In attendance: Kip Sullivan, David Mair, Sarah Kesler, Elizabeth Frost, Ann Settgast

1. Member reports
a. David reported on his August appearance on a panel on health care disparities hosted by Representative Keith Ellison
b. David and Elizabeth reported on the meeting they had with Senator Franken’s staff; Ann reported on a meeting with Senator Klobuchar’s staff
c. Kip reported on his communication with Pastor Gwin Pratt of St Luke Presbyterian Church in Minnetonka. He will be speaking at the end of the month to their policy committee which plans to apply for a national grant ($2500) that would be used to hold a single-payer workshop.
d. September Mad As Hell event reviewed – turnout at the capitol was smaller than desired (likely due to the event time on a weekday), but event was successful; press coverage was excellent
i. We agreed to give the large signed poster requesting protection of the Kucinich amendment to Representative Ellison. Other legislators will receive a photo of the poster. The entire MN delegation will receive a letter from PNHP-MN requesting their assistance in protecting the amendment. Letter is attached.

2. Upcoming talks/events
a. Oct 8 – SD 53 healthcare forum (Rep. Paul Gardner’s district). Ellen Lafans has requested a doc attend to help her direct Q&A. Sarah volunteered.
b. Oct 10 – Elizabeth is presenting the case for single-payer to the Bush medical fellows at the Mpls Golf Club.
c. Oct 13 – David is the MD speaker at an event about the MN Health Plan in Mora from 5:30 to 7:30.
d. Oct 13 – Kip is speaking to a group of alternative healthcare providers at 7:30 pm at the Eagan Community Center at 1501Central Parkway, Eagan.
e. Oct 14 – Hazardous to your Health series at 7pm. Topic: racial disparities. Speakers will be Dr. Pat Rock (Indian Health Board) and state Representative Hayden. Flyer is attached.
f. Oct 14 – SD 53 is holding a house party for the MN Health Plan – Ellen Lafans has requested a doc attend from PNHP. David has volunteered.
g. Oct 15 – Glen Peterson is speaking at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Mankato at 6:30 and would like to have an MD co-present with him. Lynn Kelley is a maybe, and Sarah volunteered to attend.
h. Oct 24 – PNHP annual meeting in Boston – Susan Hasti and Gillian Schivone are attending the leadership training in addition to the annual mtg. Ann, Elizabeth, and Sarah will be attending the annual meeting. We will hold a Minnesota speakers’ training after the first of the year using Susan and Gillian’s expertise.
i. Oct 28 – Unity-building get-together 3:30-5:30 as f/u from the July workshop for MN groups involved in healthcare reform. David will represent PNHP-MN.
j. Oct 28 – Kip will be speaking at 9:30 am at the Depot in downtown Mpls to the Association of United Methodist Pension Officers.
k. Oct 31 - Mobilize for the Minnesota Health Plan Training; 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. (lunch included); Rochester Senior Center; 121 North Broadway; Rochester . This is a great opportunity to learn more about our state bill. Sign up on the MUHCC website.

3. Discussion surrounding our letter regarding the public option that was mailed in late July to the MN congressional delegation. In it we collaborated with other groups to outline minimum criteria for the PO. Unfortunately, these have not been supported strongly by our collaborators, and we discussed how to address the issue further. Kip will arrange a f/u meeting with Vic Rosenthal.

4. The following 13 state legislators have been identified by MUHCC as targets for upcoming committee hearings in the next session. Those who take responsibility for a district will call each member in the district to determine their level of interest in meeting with their legislator about the MHP. If needed, they will attend the meeting. They will also use the phone call to f/u on the MUHCC fundraising letter that was mailed last week.
a. SD 22 Senator Jim Vickerman – 0 docs
b. SD 45 Senator Ann Rest, New Hope – 3 docs (1 is Paul Pentel) – Laurel will take.
c. SD 51 Senator Don Betzold – 1 member – Laurel will take.
d. SD 57 Senator Katie Sieben, Newport – 6 members (5 are docs including Bill Spinelli, and 1 member is Eileen Weber, RN) – Jim will take.
e. HD 53A Rep. Paul Gardner, Shoreview – 1 doc (George Dawson, psychiatry) – Dave will take.
f. HD 56A Rep. Julie Bunn, Lake Elmo – 0 docs
g. HD 29B Rep. Kim Norton, Rochester – 2 docs (1 is Rick Kvam) – Dave will take.
h. HD 7A Rep. Tom Huntley, Duluth – 13 docs (several activists) – Ann will take.
i. HD 14B Rep. Larry Hosch – 1 doc – Elizabeth will take.
j. HD 39B Rep. Joe Atkins – 3 members (1 is a doc) – Elizabeth will take.
k. HD 44A Rep. Steve Simon – 8 docs (1 is Stuart Hanson) – Kip will take.
l. HD 50B Rep. Kate Knuth – 2 members (1 is a doc named John Salchert and the other is Barbara Qualley, RN) – Elizabeth will take.
m. HD 55A Rep. Leon Lillie (2 docs) – Elizabeth will take.

5. Next steering committee meeting will be held Thursday, November 12 at 7pm in the Strommen Building. Elizabeth proposed that going forward we open the SC meetings to all chapter members in order to give interested members further opportunity for involvement. All were in agreement. We will maintain the steering committee structure to use as needed for quick decisions via email, and the expectation will remain that SC members will attend the monthly meetings.