The practice of medicine is highly regulated. While the MMS does
not provide legal advice to its members, we provide general
resources on common legal and regulatory questions. If you need
legal advice, please consult a private attorney.
Licensure Information
Board of Registration in Medicine: Online Licensing Renewal
Board of Registration in Medicine: Licensing
Division
General licensure information, download renewal forms, change your
address, Frequently Asked Questions, and more
Continuing Medical Education Requirements for Physician License
Renewal in Massachusetts
Information on hours and type of CME and documentation required,
reporting cycle, and other related requirements from the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Board of Medicine To Audit CME Credits
The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine will begin
conducting random audits of CME credits for physicians whose
license renewal date is after July 1, 2011.
Practice Operations
Securing Your Identity: Prospective and Retrospective
Considerations
How to identify and reduce risks, and what to do if your data has
been stolen, or if you believe it may have been stolen.
Office-Based Surgery Guidelines
The purpose of these guidelines is to promote patient safety in the
non-hospital setting during procedures that require the
administration of local anesthesia, conscious sedation, deep
sedation, general anesthesia, or minor or major conduction
blockade.
Massachusetts Laws Regarding Medical
Records
(.pdf,
10 pages)
Legal FAQs: Medical Records
Physician Self-Governance: Model Documents
Model Medical Staff Bylaws
Model Principles for Peer & Professional
Review
MMS On-Call Principles
Closing a Practice
Issues for the Retiring Physician
Physician's Survivor Information
(.pdf, 24 pages)
A resource for spouses/ families when a physician dies.
Fraud and Abuse/Stark Law
Massachusetts Fraud and Abuse Guide (.pdf,
41 pages)
HIPAA
HIPAA Resources
Peer Review
Guide to Peer Review Support
Resources
Your Patients: Resource Guides
Health Care Proxy Information and Forms
Medical Perspectives on Impaired Driving
Providing Medical Interpreters for Your
Patients
Reporting of Patient Diseases, Conditions, and
Occurrences
Ethics and MMS
"Law and
Ethics" columns
Published several times a year in Vital
Signs, the MMS monthly newsletter.
The Ethics Forum
Twice a year, the MMS Committee on Ethics, Grievances, and Professional
Standards hosts the Ethics Forum, a CME program that
offers an opportunity to explore topics at the intersection of
ethics, medicine, and professionalism.
MMS Code of Ethics (see also the AMA Codes of Medical Ethics)
Social Media Guidelines for Physicians
Covers the professional, ethical and legal benefits and
considerations for physicians' use of social media for professional
and personal purposes. Submitted by the MMS Communications
Committee, and approved by the MMS House of Delegates in May
2011.
Legal Services for MMS Members Only
MMS Legal Advisory Plan
Is a prepaid legal services plan that provides legal advisory and
consultation services to MMS members for specified Board of
Registration in Medicine matters.
Attorney Referral Service
MMS members may contact the MMS Office of the General Counsel to
request referrals to private practice attorneys. There is no charge
for this service. MMS members may call (800) 322-2303, ext.
7520.
MMS Corporate Documents
Act of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Code of
Ethics
Policy Compendium (.pdf, 158 pages, 1.6
mb)
Related Links
CRICO/RMF
Provides the Harvard medical community's physicians, institutions,
and employees with a medical malpractice insurance program.
PIAM: Physicians
Insurance Agency of Massachusetts
Offers a range of insurance products, financial planning (including
retirement & estate planning), and practice services.
