State Update

State House Scorecard: Slow Progress at Beacon Hill Break

Late in the evening of November 16, the gavel fell in the House, marking the end of the “formal” state legislative session until January 4. The Senate had already gone home. While there was still much work left on the table, the approval of health-access legislation by both chambers -- albeit in different versions needing conference committee reconciliation -- left advocates with a sense of accomplishment (see related article).

While the health-access debate received the most press, progress was also being made on a number of other fronts: three major health-related measures supported by the MMS have already been enacted this year, and other favorable bills have advanced.

Two of the three enacted bills came on legislative overrides of Gov. Romney’s veto, while the third, conversely, resulted from the Legislature’s acceptance of many of the governor’s own recommendations.

On May 31, the Legislature overrode the governor’s veto of legislation allowing embryonic stem cell research; the bill also banned the for-profit sale of human embryos and “human reproductive cloning.” Then, on September 15, lawmakers overrode Gov. Romney’s veto of a measure making emergency contraception more available. The tables turned in October, when, at the governor’s urging, the Legislature strengthened “Melanie’s Law,” increasing penalties for drunk drivers.

Three bills filed by the Society have received favorable committee reports and have been advanced to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing: legislation to streamline physician credentialing, to require more rapid payment of claims through timely notification of defects, and to establish a commission to study alcohol abuse in the Commonwealth. In addition, a Society-supported bill to decriminalize the possession of hypodermic needles and -syringes and allow for their purchase from pharmacists without a prescription passed the House on November 9 and is awaiting Senate consideration.

Also advancing with favorable committee recommendations have been public health and safety measures that would strengthen seatbelt enforcement, limit “junk food” sales in schools, limit the use of mercury-containing products, and require cigarettes to be self-extinguishing. In addition, legislation easing the costs to volunteer physicians has also advanced. Credentialing reform and volunteer physician issues are also being considered by the conference committee working on the health-access legislation.

The MMS has also been engaged in “defensive” advocacy -- opposing proposed encroachments on physicians’ scope of practice by allied and alternative health professionals. While few bills opposed by the Society have advanced, the MMS is most concerned with legislation reported out of the Health Care Financing Committee that would give pharmacists prescribing authority.

– Steve Shestakofsky