Minnesota Natural Health Legal Reform Project

MNHLRP's Accomplishments
 

Since 2000, MNHLRP has worked with legislators to pass additional legislation:

  1. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) introduced an award to be given each year for innovation in Workers Compensation.  MNHLRP nominated Starkey Labs for this award.  During the Work Comp Summit in Brainerd, they received this award for saving $10 - 20 million dollars over 15 years and effectively eliminating their Carpel Tunnel Syndrome problem by using on-site Rolfers.  Please click Current Issues, Work Comp and Rolfing to read more.
  2. In 2010, MNHLRP helped defeat a Massage Therapy Registration Bill.  This bill, touted as merely "voluntary" amounted to unnecessary government regulation.  The proponents of the bill were not able to convince the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee that it was necessary and the bill was laid on the table and not brought forth again. 
  3. During the 2010 Legislative Session, the majority of legislators agreed with MNHLRP and once again voted to repeal the prohibition on paying 146A practitioners out of Workers Compensation Funds.  The Governor once again threatened a veto, so the prohibition stands.  We don't understand why the Governor would veto this when natural health therapies have been shown again and again to lower the costs of helping injuries AND getting people back to work.  It is also unnecessary governmental interference. 
  4. Kathryn Berg, Vice President of MNHLRP, has been invited to speak at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's annual Workers Compensation Summit in June of 2010.  She was invited by Commissioner Steve Sviggum to speak on the topic of Alternative Medicine and Workers Compensation.  MNHLRP thanks Larry Miller, VP of Human Resources and Starkey for spending the time with Commissioner Sviggum to show him the effectiveness of Natural Therapies.  We also thank Commissioner Sviggum for being open-minded and taking the time to go to Starkey TWICE early this year to learn about their program of Rolfing to prevent and heal repetitive motion injuries. 
  5. An exemption in the emergency health powers act of 2002 to allow citizens to choose isolation and quarantine in lieu of mandatory testing and mandatory vaccination in the event of an emergency health powers declaration.
  6. A provision requiring notification to parents of their right to opt out of vaccinations to be in the same font, type size and same side of the page as “NO SHOTS, NO SCHOOL” notices. These notices that require vaccinations to go to school are actually a mischaracterization of the rules regarding vaccinations for school attendance.
  7. As a coalition member of Health Legacy, we supported passage of the toxic-free products act and the ban on Bisphenol A in infant products, both in the 2009 Minnesota legislative session.  Click here for more information about Healthy Legacy. 
  8. As a partner with Neighbors Against the Burner, in the 2007 Minnesota State legislative session, MNHLRP supported the creation of a task force to study healthier options to power the Rock Tenn Paper Recycling plant in St. Paul instead of the proposed garbage incincerator.  Click here for more information about Neighbors Against the Burner. 
  9. In 2009 worked with members of the state legislature to pass a repeal of a Worker's Compensation provision which prohibits the payment of 146A practitioners for their work with injured workers.  Unfortunately, Governor Pawlenty subsequently vetoed this action.  Read a copy of his veto letter here.