The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), the statewide professional association of physicians and medical students, has adopted several new organizational policies, including those that address vaccines and harm-reduction measures aimed at treating patients
with substance use disorder.
Physicians and students from the MMS’s House of Delegates attended the organization's 2025 virtual interim meeting Dec. 6 and considered resolutions proposed by MMS members. Proposals accepted by the House of Delegates became organizational policy and
will impact the medical society’s efforts to improve public health and health care delivery for patients in the Commonwealth and nationally.
Increase scientific/evidence-based approach at federal Department of Health and Human Services
The MMS strongly supports that the federal Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies have a duty to adhere to and advance scientifically and evidence-based recommendations and policies, including those relating to vaccines.
Ensuring access to perinatal and infant vaccination
The MMS considers people who are pregnant, recently pregnant, or breastfeeding, as well as infants, to be at high risk for complications of infectious diseases. The Society supports prioritizing and ensuring access for high-risk populations, including
people who are prepregnant, pregnant, recently pregnant, or breastfeeding, as well as infants, to receive vaccinations and other immunizing agents to reduce risk of serious illness.
Comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education for disabled students
The MMS supports sexual health education that is comprehensive, medically accurate, culturally and religiously aware, and age appropriate and promotes a perception of sexuality that is free from shame, blame, and stigma. Education should prepare individuals
to make healthy sexual decisions and recognize that individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities have sexual and reproductive needs that must be addressed.
Protecting life-saving harm-reduction services
The MMS recognizes harm reduction as both a critical framework and an effective public health strategy underpinning the treatment of substance use disorders and affirms that evidence-based harm reduction services are vital, evidence-based components of
comprehensive care for substance use disorders, which improve patient outcomes, reduce preventable deaths, and safeguard public health.
Prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies
The MMS will seek legislation and/or regulation that would prevent pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies in the Commonwealth and will seek legislation and/or regulation so that pharmacy benefits manager profits are delinked
from prescription drug prices to eliminate the incentive for pharmacy benefits managers to manipulate prices to increase profits. The MMS will advocate to the American Medical Association and all interested parties to develop model legislation empowering
insurance regulating bodies to regulate pharmacy benefits managers and prevent PBMs from owning or operating pharmacies.
For complete results of all House of Delegates votes from IM 2025, click here.
