MMS Expresses “Grave Concerns” About House Health Care Proposal

Contact: Richard Gulla
rgulla@mms.org
(781) 434-7101

Waltham, Mass. – July 21, 2010 – The Massachusetts Medical Society stated its grave concerns today about the Massachusetts House’s proposed redraft of the health care cost containment bill passed by the Senate earlier this year.

MMS President Alice A. Tolbert Coombs, M.D., said, “We have grave concerns that the complexity of this bill, coupled with the short time left on the legislative calendar, fails to provide enough time for thoughtful analysis of the impact on the provider community, its ramifications on our patients’ access to care, and its effect on the economy of the Commonwealth.

“The legislation could also produce unintended consequences. For example, it could become more difficult to recruit and retain physicians and worsen already troubling physician workforce issues.
 
“We must also be careful that this legislation does not unnecessarily complicate our long-term efforts to improve health care. It’s important to be efficient, but we can’t starve the system of the resources that are absolutely necessary to invest in a sustainable, high-quality health care system.”

The Massachusetts Medical Society, with more than 23,000 physicians and student members, is dedicated to educating and advocating for the patients and physicians of Massachusetts. The Society publishes the New England Journal of Medicine, a leading global medical journal and web site, and Journal Watch alerts and newsletters covering 13 specialties. The Society is also a leader in continuing medical education for health care professionals throughout Massachusetts, conducting a variety of medical education programs for physicians and health care professionals. Founded in 1781, MMS is the oldest continuously operating medical society in the country. For more information please visit www.massmed.org, www.nejm.org or www.jwatch.org.

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