MINNEAPOLIS, November 20, 2008—One MMA physician representative is needed to serve on the state Health Care Home Certification Standards Work Group.

The group is expected to meet three to five times, from early December through approximately March 2009.

Under the 2008 Health Care Reform Act, certified health care homes are eligible for new care coordination payments for services provided to patients with chronic or complex conditions.

Certification standards, for which the Legislature established some parameters, will be developed using the state’s expedited administrative rule-making process. To be in place by July 1, 2009 as required by law, a proposed set of standards likely needs to be developed by mid-February 2009.

Interested physicians should send their name along with a description of why they want to serve to Janet Silversmith, MMA director of health policy, at JSilversmith@mnmed.org no later than the close of business Monday, December 1.