State Update: MMS Claims Health Care Victories as Legislative Session Concludes

As the 2001-02 session of the Massachusetts Legislature winds down, it is clear that the state finances dominated debates on Beacon Hill over the past two years. While deficits, taxes and budget cuts captured many headlines, the MMS successfully represented the interests of physicians on numerous health care-related matters. Some measures supported by the MMS were enacted, while some bills that the MMS advocated against were defeated.

Among the Medical Society's victories was the enactment of an MMS-filed bill to limit the use of the term "physician" to medical professionals licensed by the Board of Registration in Medicine. Then, in July, as part of the state budget, the Legislature adopted a significant tobacco tax increase recommended by the Health Now! Massachusetts coalition, convened by the MMS, the American Cancer Society and Health Care for All. The MMS also successfully supported the following legislation:

• Environmental Protection -- Banning the sale of mercury fever thermometers except in the case of medical necessity as determined by a licensed physician or by prescription.
• Participation in Clinical Trials -- Providing insurance coverage for patient care services furnished
  pursuant to certain qualified clinical trials involving cancer research.
• Equal Access to Prescription Drugs -- Requiring insurers to provide coverage for outpatient contraceptive services at the same level of coverage as other outpatient services.
• Use of Physician Licensing Fees -- Mandating that recent physician licensing fee increases be earmarked for use by the Board of Registration in Medicine, a step towards achieving the MMS policy that all licensing fees be devoted to the exclusive use of the Board.

Often overlooked are those bills that were defeated. The MMS successfully campaigned against measures that would have expanded the scope of practice for podiatrists and granted licensure to naturopaths. The Medical Society also urged Gov. Swift to veto legislation that would have allowed for the labeling of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids at dangerously
high levels.

- Steve Shestakofsky