In accordance with an MMS House of Delegates directive, the Society supported a legislative initiative to secure critical funding to ensure the sustainability of Physician Health Services (PHS).
On August 5, the Governor signed into law a new funding mechanism that authorizes an additional bi-annual $50 fee on all full physician licenses to directly subsidize the free support provided by PHS.
Please read below for more information about the essential services provided by PHS and the Medical Society’s policy directive that governed our advocacy.
What is Physician Health Services?
Physician Health Services (PHS) is a non-profit organization established by the MMS to support physician health, well-being, and effectiveness. A nationally recognized leader, PHS provides
highly respected, indispensable mental health and support services that are free, confidential under state law, and offered without stigma to all physicians and medical students in Massachusetts.
What actions did MMS take to make sure this physician resource remained operational and available?
Citing a need to support physicians and medical students across the Commonwealth, a measure was passed by the Medical Society’s House of Delegates (HOD) at the 2025 Annual Meeting directing the MMS to begin advocating to establish an alternative funding
source to supplement the operations and sustainability of PHS. In August of 2025 the legislature passed a Massachusetts Medical Society-supported approach to establish critical funding for Physician Health Services.
What did the legislative action accomplish?
The legislature passed a supplemental budget containing a policy provision that will fold into all full physician licensing fees (initial and renewal) an additional $50 bi-annually to directly subsidize the free support provided by PHS. Similar direct
license funding models are used in 34 other states to support physician health programs like PHS.
What is the value in investing in Physician Health Services?
PHS provides direct support to hundreds of physicians and medical students annually but relies on a charitable model of funding, which has become increasingly unreliable, reflecting the financial instability endemic in our health care system. This additional
stream of funding, as outlined by the Society’s advocacy directive, represents a critical investment that will ensure PHS remains an important and viable resource for our colleagues.
What are the next steps?
The additional licensing fee went into effect when the Governor signed the law on August 5. The Massachusetts Medical Society will work with the state’s Department of Public Health and the Board of Registration in Medicine to implement this program.
