MERC Committee Meeting
Monday, February 10, 2014
1 pm – 3 pm
Meeting location: Retirement Systems of Minnesota Building 60 Empire Drive, St. Paul MN Directions: http://www.msrs.state.mn.us/info/Map.htmls
Agenda
1:00
W
elcome/Introductions
Minutes/Old Business
1:05 Presentation and Discussion
 Psychology Education – Trisha Stark Minnesota
Psychological Association

Social Work Education - Lisa Richardson
School of Social Work, St. Catherine University & the University of
St. Thomas
2:05 Review and Synthesis from Current/Previous Presentations
2:35 MERC Program Updates and Discussion
MERC Committee Meeting
November 20, 2013
Committee Members Present:
Felix Ankel, Leon Assael, Kate Dean, Mary Edwards, Dawn Ludwig, Kathy Meyerle, Merri Moody,
John Rodewald, Marilyn Speedie, and Richard Wehseler.
Interested Parties Signed-in:
*
Jaqueline Attig, Wallace Boeve, *Gina Danyluk, Rena Garni, Christine Kiel, David Knowlan, Margo
Marko, Janet McCarthy, Jeff Richter, Rick Roberts, *Raquel Rodriguez, Alan Rose, Colette
Salmanowicz, Joe Schindler, Trisha Schirmers, Troy Taubenheim, and Kelly Wolfe.
MDH Staff Present:
Cindy LeMere, Diane Reger and Mark Schoenbaum
Presenters:
Connie Delaney & Mary Chesney, University of MN School of Nursing
Dawn Ludwig, Augsburg College Physician Assistant Program
*Via teleconference
I.
Introductory Remarks – Marilyn Speedie, Chair
Dr. Speedie opened the meeting and briefed the committee on the agenda. Those in attendance
introduced themselves. September minutes were approved.
II.
Presentations and Discussion:
Physician Assistant Utilization: Meeting Health Care Workforce Needs – Dawn Ludwig
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/hep/merc/committee/papres.pdf
-
PA’s cannot be independent provider, must be in practice with a physician. Physicians do not need to be present in
office, but need to review the PA’s practice.
St. Catherine’s and Bethel University have PA programs and are starting clinical training soon.
Program has difficult time finding clinical training spots.
Advanced Practice Nursing – Connie Delaney & Mary Chesney
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/hep/merc/committee/aprnpres.pdf
-
Nursing School does not pay for clinical rotations. MERC is the sole source of funding.
In MN, may prescribe certain types of medicines within the facility if agreement is signed by MD. Iowa and North
Dakota allow full practice to prescribe.
III. Program Updates – Mark Schoenbaum and Diane Reger, MDH
Technical Workgroup: The workgroup meet throughout late summer and early fall to discussed
accountability through expenditure reporting on MERC funds. Topics included: data collection,
funding period, and final reporting. At the November 6, 2013, workgroup meeting a work plan was
finalized and approved. The workgroup is now seeking approval from the Committee to implement the
plan.
Handouts: Discussion Draft – Possible MERC Reporting Scenario
MERC Program Grantee Fiscal Year 2011 Expenditure Report (sample)
Questions/Suggestions:
Q. Can facilities below $5,000 minimum not be asked for expenditure reports or be given the
option not to comply?
A. Grants will not be calculated prior to requesting expenditure data, this information will
not be known upfront. Will add option to report, allowing sites to withdraw.
R. Do not send expenditure requests to facilities below FTE minimum.
The expenditure report requests will be emailed to the email address/contact listed on the fiscal year
2011 MERC grant application. All reports will be submitted though an online data collection and due
by the end of January 2014.
Grant Distribution: The next grant distribution will be funded with fiscal year 2014 state/federal funds
and will take place on approximately April 30, 2014. Potential grantees include training facilities
hosting FTEs during fiscal year 2011. Upon federal approval of the MERC State Plan Amendment,
new provider types will be included in the application cycle.
Future Application: Request for MERC grant applications for fiscal year 2012 clinical training were
delayed pending technical workgroup discussions. Typically applications have a statutory deadline of
October 31. MDH issued an extension for all applicants while the legislative changing affecting the
MERC grant were worked through. Applications were released at the beginning of October and are due
on December 15, 2013. The data year collected will be fiscal year 2012. MDH expects to release
these funds in April 2015.
IV.
Future Meeting Schedule
Future meeting agenda topics of interest: inter-professional training.
Monday, February 10, 2014, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday, May 5, 2014, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Please refer to the advisory committee section of the MERC website for meeting updates and location.
MERC Committee Discussion Framework for Summarizing Professions Presentations February 10, 2014 Yes, to expand collaborative practice definitions, allow better use of skills. Public knowledge of what pharmacists can offer is limited. Pharmacists provide the best access to health care professionals, including rural areas. 5,860 Not clear; no longer strong shortages; depends upon utilization; could see future shortages. Numbers in Minnesota Workforce Needs Advanced Practice Nursing Pharmacists can contribute to management of medications, esp. for chronic illness, with cost savings but aren’t being fully utilized. Must link pharmacies to ACOs, Medical homes, etc., partly informatics issue. Pharmacy Clinical Training Challenges Two Most Important Issues Dentistry Additional Comments Clinical Training Financing Issues Are Practice Act Changes Being Pursued? Physician Assistants Physicians Psychology Social Work Other MERC Professions Discussion questions: 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Are any perceived shortages due to the fact that medical homes and interprofessional health teams are not fully operational? Are shortages due to lack of training in any profession? Are shortages due to maldistribution of health care workers throughout the state? Where should the state devote its effort in ensuring that there are adequate numbers of health professionals for the state? How can access to health care be optimized for Minnesota citizens? Can MERC funding influence this access? FY2011 MERC Clinical Training Grant Applicants
MERC Provider Type
ADVANCED DENTAL THERAPISTS
ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS
DENTAL RESIDENTS
DENTAL STUDENTS
DENTAL THERAPISTS
MEDICAL RESIDENTS
MEDICAL STUDENTS
PHARMD RESIDENTS
PHARMD STUDENTS
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
PSYCHOLOGISTS
FTEs
13.9
283.3
17.1
68.9
158.4
3.2
1938.2
514.0
48.3
145.5
27.9
3.2
3221.8
Total
New ‐ MERC Provider Types
ADVANCED DENTAL THERAPISTS
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS
DENTAL THERAPISTS
PSYCHOLOGISTS
Preliminary as of February 6, 2014
Grantee Name ‐ Time of Application
APPLE TREE DENTAL
CHILDRENS DENTAL SERVICES INC
COMMUNITY DENTAL CARE INC
HENNEPIN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER
NACC DENTAL CLINIC
RICE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
UNIV OF MN SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY
ABBOTT NORTHWESTERN HOSPITAL
ACCEND SERVICES INCORPORATED
ALLINA AHCS SENIORCARE
CATHOLIC CHARITIES AGING SERVICES
CATHOLIC CHARITIES ST PAUL
CHILDRENS HEALTH CARE MINNEAPOLIS
CHILDRENS HOSPITALS AND CLINICS OF MN
ESSENTIA HEALTH DULUTH
FACE TO FACE HEALTH COUNSELING
FACE TO FACE HEALTH COUNSELING
FAIRVIEW PAIN MANAGEMENT CENTER
FAMILY LIFE CENTER
FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES INC
FRASER CHILD AND FAMILY CENTER
FRASER CHILD AND FAMILY CENTER
HAMM MEMORIAL PSYCHIATRIC CLINC
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC
JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SVC MPLS
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF ST PAUL
LIFESPAN OF MINNESOTA INC
MERCY HOSPITAL
NORTHWOOD CHILDRENS SERVICES
ST DAVIDS CENTER CHILD AND FAMILY
THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP
THE MENTAL HEALTH COLLECTIVE
THE MENTAL HEALTH COLLECTIVE
THERAPEUTIC SERVICES AGENCY INC
UMMC FAIRVIEW
UMMC FAIRVIEW
WASHBURN CENTER FOR CHILDREN
WESTERN MENTAL HEALTH CENTER
WOODLAND HILLS
WOODLAND HILLS
NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY CLINIC
UNIV OF MN SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY
FRASER CHILD AND FAMILY CENTER
MIDWESTERN NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
RAMSEY COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CTR
Location
MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS
ST PAUL
MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS
WILLMAR
MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS
DULUTH
ST PAUL
ST PAUL
ST PAUL
MINNEAPOLIS
ST PAUL
DULUTH
ST PAUL
ST PAUL
MINNEAPOLIS
COON RAPIDS
NEW BRIGHTON
MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS
ST PAUL
DULUTH
MINNETONKA
ST PAUL
BURNSVILLE
COON RAPIDS
DULUTH
MINNETONKA
MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS
PINE CITY
MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS
MARSHALL
DULUTH
DULUTH
MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS
EDINA
ST PAUL
FTEs
0.86
1.01
6.54
1.48
0.09
0.13
3.78
0.6
0.56
0.3
0.6
0.6
0.3
0.9
0.36
0.25
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.25
1.2
0.3
0.23
0.6
0.3
0.6
0.3
0.89
1.2
0.9
0.25
0.6
0.3
0.25
1.5
0.6
0.3
0.25
0.61
0.03
3.17
1.7406
1.0712
0.375