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 in Opposition to H. 1938 and S. 1071 An Act Relative to the Registration of Podiatrists November 19, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded in opposition to H.1938 and S. 1071, identical bills that would extend the scope of practice of podiatry beyond the diagnosis and treatment, including surgery, of the foot to “ include, but not exceed, portions of the fibula and tibia that...

• Testimony in Opposition to H.1981 and S.1070 An Act Relative to Modernization of Optometric Patient Care November 19, 2013

  The MMS opposes these bills on the grounds that there is sufficient access to ophthalmologists to treat any eye disease and that optometrists are simply seeking to expand their business at the expense of their patients.

• Testimony In Opposition to H.2009/S.1709 And H.2008/S.1081 November 19, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to raise several points concerning House 2009 and Senate 1709 relative to their impact on the delivery of patient care in the Commonwealth. This legislation, if enacted would remove the statutory structure underlying the physician led teams that form the...

• Testimony In Opposition to S. 1084 An Act Relative to the Practice of Psychiatry November 19, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded in opposition in the strongest possible terms to Senate 1084. This legislation creates, as a qualification for being licensed as a physician in Massachusetts, a new standard for state mandated action.

• MMS Comments on Draft SGR Repeal and Medicare Payment Reform Legislation November 12, 2013

• Testimony in Support of House 1925 An Act Relative to Physician Health Information Technology November 5, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded in support of Representative Curran on House 1925 and to thank him for his efforts to prevent unintended consequences of one sentence in Chapter 224 of the Acts of 2012. The original intent of the section in question was to advance adoption of...

• Comments Before the Joint Committee on Public Health Regarding House 1951 and House 2114 Relative to Coverage of Telemedicine Services October 29, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded on several issues regarding the potential expansion of coverage for telemedicine services in the Commonwealth. The Division of Insurance is looking at ways to support the appropriate use of telemedicine services as well.

• Testimony in Opposition to House Bill 1900 and House Bill 1941 October 29, 2013

  The Mass. Medical Society wishes to be recorded in opposition to House Bill 1900 and House Bill 1941 which while well intentioned, would place an unnecessary burden on physicians without a corresponding increase in the quality of patient care.

• Testimony relative to H 1035, H 1053, S 514, S 515, S 572 October 22, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to share the following policies from our House of Delegates. We hope these adopted policies will help inform legislators of the views of physicians on a broad range of relevant approaches and issues relating to access to health care, payment reform and...

• Testimony in Opposition to Senate Bill 441 An Act Relative to Reducing the Cost of Health Care October 16, 2013

  The Mass Medical Society wishes to be recorded in opposition to S.441, “An Act Relative to Reducing the Cost of Health Care.”  This refile bill would require insurers to reimburse health care providers at the lowest rate of reimbursement for a particular service, and would statutorily require the...

• Testimony in Opposition to House Bill 924 and Senate Bill 431 An Act Relative to Administrative Simplification October 16, 2013

  The Mass Medical Society wishes to be recorded in opposition to H.924 and S.431, identical bills that would weaken existing law relative to physician notification of utilization review (UR) determinations.

• Testimony in Support of House 951 An Act Relative to Insurance Companies and Quality Measures and Senate 454 An Act Relative to Patient Care Access October 16, 2013

  The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) wishes to be recorded in strong support for House 951 and Senate 454.  Both of these bills were initiated by the MMS.   Rising health care costs and further attention to the quality of health care delivered in the Commonwealth have driven payers, employers,...