MMS Testimony

MMS officers frequently offer testimony and/or legal perspectives to state and federal officials on issues relevant to Massachusetts physicians and their patients.

• Testimony Relative to Firearms and Guns September 13, 2013

  As the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security considers the legislation before them today, relative to firearms and gun control, the MMS would like to bring the following facts and Society policies to the members’ attention.

• Testimony In Opposition to H 1793 An Act to Increase Access to Mental Health Services September 10, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded in opposition to H 1793. This legislation would remove the existing statutory framework underlying the relationship between physicians and psychiatric nurse practitioners. This legislation creates no public protections or standards to replace...

• Testimony Concerning Proposed New Regulations 244 CMR 10.00 Governing Advanced Practice Nursing August 7, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to express in the strongest possible terms, its concerns about the actions of the Board of Registration in Nursing in proposing regulations which, in significant part, are inconsistent with current laws and with the standards of good nursing practice which...

• Testimony In Opposition to S.544/H.1018, S.547/H.1020, and H.1019 July 30, 2013

  The MMS wishes to be recorded in opposition to these three bills filed by Representative Paul Donato and the identical Senate versions of two of the bills, filed by Senator Michael Moore. Some of this legislation was filed in the last session and did not pass. While having different provisions,...

• Testimony in Support of House Bill 1014, House Bill 1034, and Senate Bill 552 Relative to Extending Patient Protections to Recipients of MassHealth July 30, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded in strong support of the above referenced legislation  legislation that would expand patient protections for MassHealth recipients and require MassHealth to adopt administrative reforms that would encourage physicians and other health care...

• Testimony Concerning Proposed Changes to 105 CMR 140.000 Regarding Limited Service Clinics July 23, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society is disappointed in the legislature’s insistence on modification of existing regulations on limited service clinics and concerned about the impact of the proposed regulations on public health.

• Testimony In Support of House Bill 2941 and Senate Bill 1573 An Act to Improve Outdoor Lighting and Increase Dark Sky Visibility July 9, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society is in support of House Bill 2941 and Senate Bill 1573, legislation that would limit excess lighting produced by state-funded outdoor lighting.  Much of the light generated by roadway and security lighting never achieves its intended purpose.  It never...

• MMS Testimony Regarding Infectious Disease Related Bills H. 2012, S.995, S.1021, S.1044 June 25, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society would like to be recorded in support of H.2012, filed by Rep. Jason Lewis, (D-Winchester).  H.2012 would establish a Vaccine Purchase Trust Fund to ensure that children 0-18 years of age receive all of the vaccines recommended by the federal Advisory Committee...

• Testimony in Opposition to Senate 303, An Act Relative to Psychotropic Medications, and Senate 308, An Act Relative to Psychotropic Medications June 18, 2013

  Testimony presented to the Massachusetts Legislature's Joint Committee on Elder Affairs.

• Testimony In Support of Senate 453 and House 936 An Act to Further Define Adverse Determinations by Insurers June 12, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded in support of Senate Bill 453 and House Bill 936 “An Act to Further Define Adverse Determinations by Insurers.”  These identical bills would require that health insurers defer to the medical judgment of the treating clinician unless the...

• Testimony in Support of House 858 An Act Relative to Communications Between Health Insurers and Patients June 12, 2013

  H.858 would create a new patient protection by prohibiting those with a potential incentive to discourage patients from seeking ongoing treatment from contacting patients without the knowledge or presence of a treating physician.

• Testimony in Support of House 960 and Senate 498 An Act to Prevent Inappropriate Denials for Medically Necessary Services June 12, 2013

  The Mass Medical Society wishes to be recorded in support of H.960 and S.498, identical bills to prevent inappropriate denials for medically necessary services, filed by Representative David Nangle and Senator Daniel Wolf and many co-sponsors. This legislation codifies fairness and support for...