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 the Determination of Needs Regulations Before the Public Health Council September 29, 2016

  The Massachusetts Medical Society greatly appreciates the opportunity to provide comment on the Department of Public Health’s proposed revision to the Determination of Need (DON) regulations (105 CMR 100.000). The Medical Society commends the Department in its desire to reform the DON program; few...

• MMS Testimony Relative to Proposed Amendments to MassHealth Billing Regulations July 22, 2016

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to convey its strong disagreement with the proposed amendments to MassHealth administrative and billing regulations (130 CMR 450.000). These regulations would place an unreasonable timeline on the new requirement that all physicians become MassHealth...

• MMS Testimony Relative to MassHealth Section 1115 Demonstration Project Amendment and Extension Request July 15, 2016

  The Massachusetts Medical Society appreciates the opportunity to provide comment on the MassHealth Section  1115 Demonstration Project Amendment and Extension Request. We applaud the transparent and inclusive process Assistant Secretary Tsai and his office has undertaken over the past many months...

• MMS Testimony Relative to House 4188, An Act Relative to State Oversight of Professional Licensing Boards May 12, 2016

  The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) appreciates the opportunity to provide comment relative to and to express concern about House bill 4188, “An Act Relative to State Oversight of Professional Licensing Boards.”  The Medical Society supports the intent of the bill, as indicated on the...

• MMS Testimony Relative to S. 1048, An Act to Promote Transparency and Cost Control of Pharmaceutical Drug Prices April 11, 2016

  The Massachusetts Medical Society has prioritized finding solutions to the rising costs of pharmaceutical drugs. Far too often, high prices impede on the ability for patients to access the best treatments. The Society is actively working on this issue at the federal level, and has recently met with...

• MMS Testimony in Opposition to House 4062, An Act Relative to Benzopiazapines and Non-Benzodiazepine Hypnotics April 4, 2016

  The Medical Society strongly supports the careful prescribing of benzodiazepines given concerns over addiction, over polypharmacy abuse with opioids, and given the clinical acuity of the detoxification process from benzodiazepines. Many of the continuing medical education courses that we provide...

• MMS Testimony in Support of Senate 1114, An Act to Eliminate Health Disparities in the Commonwealth March 22, 2016

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded in support of S.1114, legislation that would establish an Office of Health Equity in the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to provide both coordination of – and accountability for – all state efforts to reduce health disparities...

• MMS Testimony Relative to Single Payor Legislation March 22, 2016

  In the Health Care Financing Committee’s consideration of the above referenced legislation, the MMS 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...

• MMS Testimony In Support of H 1903 an Act Promoting Substance Abuse Prevention through Positive Social Norms Marketing March 21, 2016

  The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded in strong support of House 1903 and commends Representative Cantwell for taking the lead in recognizing the importance of reaching out to young people to help them make good decisions about their futures. Social norms marketing is based on the...

• MMS Testimony in Opposition to H.3931, The Massachusetts Fair Health Care Pricing Act March 8, 2016

  The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) would like to be recorded in opposition to H.3931.  This initiative petition would prohibit health insurers from reimbursing acute care hospitals for a provided service at a relative price that is more than 20% above the average relative price for that...

• MMS Testimony in Opposition to House 3932, The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act March 7, 2016

  The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) wishes to be recorded in opposition to House 3932, legislation tied to the initiative petition to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. The Medical Society reaffirmed in December its policy to oppose legalization of recreational marijuana, as being...

• MMS Testimony Regarding Bicycle Safety January 6, 2016

  These bills seek to increase protections for bicyclists in various ways, from stiffer fines for cars and trucks presenting a risk to cyclists to strengthening requirements for protective equipment and clothing, a provision supported by the MMS.  MMS has policy adopted by its House of Delegates on...