The Honorable Aaron Michlewitz
Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means
State House, Room 243
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Chair Michlewitz:
The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) thanks you, along with the committee members and staff, for your work in crafting H.4000, the House Ways and Means budget for Fiscal Year 2026. On behalf of our over 24,000 members, we applaud the House for making
significant investments aimed at improving the health and well-being of all residents, especially as the Commonwealth confronts challenging fiscal realities.
We are grateful for the inclusion of Outside Section 34 to establish a task force to address barriers and impediments to the practice of telehealth across state lines, as well as Outside Sections 61, 62, and 63, which together extend
the two-year 500% FPL Connector Care pilot for one additional year. This program has greatly expanded access to affordable health care coverage and we strongly encourage its continuance.
We believe the following amendments would build upon the House’s commitment to health care and we wish to be recorded in support of:
Amendment #1495— Massachusetts Medical Society Physician Health Services, Inc. (Schwartz)
This amendment allocates $250,000 in level funding to support the critical mission and services provided by Physician Health Services (PHS), as appropriated in line item 4510-0710 of the FY25 budget.
PHS, a nonprofit subsidiary of the MMS, is dedicated to promoting physician and medical student well-being, ensuring clinical effectiveness, and safeguarding patient safety. PHS provides education, prevention, assessment, referral to treatment, and monitoring
services to support medical professionals across the Commonwealth.
Research shows that physician health programs like PHS reduce malpractice risk, enhance patient outcomes, mitigate provider burnout, and improve physician retention—an urgent priority amid ongoing workforce shortages, especially in primary care. Currently,
approximately 36,000 members of the Massachusetts medical community are eligible to access PHS’s confidential, no-cost services.
Historically, PHS has relied on charitable contributions and grants to sustain its operations. However, this model has become increasingly unsustainable due to rising demand for mental health services and broader financial pressures on all institutions.
As an essential component of the state’s health care infrastructure, PHS requires a more reliable and stable funding source to effectively meet demand. Level funding would aid PHS in its continued operations, providing critical support to the physicians
of Commonwealth.
Additional Amendments The MMS would also like to be recorded in support of amendments #1049 (Perinatal Mental Health Trust Fund), #1223 (MassHealth Telehealth Reimbursement Parity Continuation), #1224 (Digital Health Navigators), and #1298
(Universal Adult Vaccine Program), and in opposition to amendments #1097 (Protection of Reproductive Rights) and #1558 (Provider Choice).
Thank you for your attention to these comments.
Sincerely,
Hugh M. Taylor, MD
CC: Members of the House Committee on Ways & Means
View a PDF version of this letter here.
