MERC Committee Meeting
November 12, 2014
Committee Members Present:
Felix Ankel, Michael Belzer, Kate Dean, Dawn Ludwig, Kathy Meyerle, Merri Moody, Kurt Otto, Lisa
Richardson, John Rodewald, and Marilyn Speedie.
Alternate: Jeff Ogden for Leon Assael
Interested Parties Signed-in:
Jacqueline Attig*, Gina Danyluk, Valerie DeFor, Rena Garni, Christine Kiel, Peg Lamin, Deb MaylandPoyzer, Janet McCarthy, John Poe, Jeffrey Richter, Rick Roberts, Trisha Schirmers, Joe Schindler, Troy
Taubenheim, and Joel Tomlinson.
MDH Staff Present:
Darwin Flores Trujillo, Cindy LaMere, Diane Reger, Mark Schoenbaum and Will Wilson.
*via tele-conference
I. Introductory Remarks – Marilyn Speedie, University of Minnesota, Kathy Meyerle, Mayo
Foundation and Kate Dean, Essentia Institute of Rural Health
Dr. Speedie opened the meeting and briefed the committee on the agenda. Those in attendance introduced
themselves. August minutes were approved.
Kathy Meyerle and Kate Dean had two phone conferences following the August meeting with MDH staff.
They recommended Dr. Dawn Ludwig as Chair and Dr. Michael Belzer as Vice-Chair for 2015. MDH
contacted nominees and members agreed to serve. The MERC Committee currently has 13 members and
operating guidelines allow for 15-20 members.
MDH received 13 application to fill 3 to 5 openings. The MERC Advisory Committee members have a
term of membership lasting three years and may serve for a maximum of three terms. The three-year
terms are staggered so that only one-third of the members’ terms will expire at the same time.
II. Program Updates – Mark Schoenbaum, Diane Reger and Darwin Flores Trujillo
Mark presented the MERC Program Lean Kaizen event that will help to reduce the processing timeframe
of the program, improve distinct grantee application data, improve applications consistency from one to
another, and place a higher level of responsibility on clinical training sites applying for grant funds.
Some of the solutions suggested for the current state of the program are:
 reduce the lag between the program’s data years
 move to a singular process for applications and expenditure reporting in order to simultaneous
process and close the gap between application and grant payment
 better accountability from clinical training sites and training programs
 sites should be responsible to keep information current
 MDH will work with DHS on setting deadlines
Finally, Mark showed the process metrics that demonstrate the current state with a total time of 30
months. The goal is to reduce this timeframe to 15 months.
Diane presented the estimated funding for clinical training completed in FY2012, Medicaid CY2012, and
funding FY2015. The release of funding must take place by April 30, 2015. Assuming full match on
tobacco funds, the grant is estimated at $57.1 million. We continue to pend approval of the MERC State
Plan Amendment (SPA) which allows the tobacco funds to be distributed based on the 2013 legislative
formula. DHS believes the SPA will be approved in time for the next distribution which will then allow
one combined formula for tobacco and PMAP funding.
Grant applications for 2013 clinical training have been received by MDH. Data verification and
expenditure collection will take place after the release of the funding for 2012 clinical training.
Darwin presented a report for expenses of clinical training completed in FY2012 these were collected
electronically from facilities with a minimum of 0.1 FTEs. We collected expenditures from more than
550 training facilities. Facilities had the option of submit their actual, estimated or a combination of
incurred expenses. Sixty-one facilities chose to either withdraw or did not complete the process. One of
the biggest challenges in collecting the data was the multiple contacts at the sites most of them were not
familiar with the process of collecting the data requested.
III. Presentations and Discussions
Clinical Training Issues – Elizabeth Biel, Executive Director, The Clinical Coordination TCCP
Elizabeth Biel, from TCCP, shared that they currently use a software that assists with scheduling clinical
experiences for RNs, PAs and APRNs. It is widely supported by education institutions and health care
providers statewide. This software helps streamline the complex interactions between schools and
clinical sites to schedule and track student clinical experiences. Because of the efficiency gained with the
software, members reported an approximate 75% decrease in employee time spent scheduling, negotiating
and tracking clinical activity data.
IV. Future Meeting Schedule
Wednesday, February 11, 2015, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Meeting Location: Hiway Federal Credit Union
840 Westminster Street, St. Paul, MN 55130
Please refer to the advisory committee section of the MERC website for meeting updates.