Key Issues New

Administrative Burdens

The Massachusetts Medical Society works to address concerns about requirements, regulations, and implementation that arise in the medical field with approaches that prioritize patient safety and physician autonomy.

 Cost of Health Care

The Massachusetts Medical Society seeks to find solutions for growing costs in health care in the Commonwealth for patients, physicians, and health care organizations. The MMS acknowledges the unsustainable escalation of health care costs and is committed to partnering with stakeholders to address system-wide mechanisms to control cost escalation while continuing to provide high value, high quality care for patients.

 Firearm Violence

The Massachusetts Medical Society seeks to reduce mortality and morbidity attributable to guns and make gun ownership safer through educational initiatives and violence prevention efforts. The MMS also encourages research on factors associated with firearm violence.

 Medical Decisionmaking

The Massachusetts Medical Society believes advanced care directives and health care proxies bolster the key medical tenets of providing high-quality, timely care and respecting patient autonomy.

Opioids

 Addressing the opioid overdose crisis has been the number one public health and advocacy priority of the Medical Society over the last several years. The Massachusetts Medical Society recognizes first and foremost that addiction, also referred to as severe substance use disorder, is a chronic, relapsing brain disease.

 Prescription Drug Pricing

Medications are prescribed to improve and save patient lives and the Massachusetts Medical Society believes prescription drugs should be affordable and available to patients without undue burdens. The MMS supports policies promoting transparency and accountability in the pharmaceutical industry to help contain costs in both the public and private markets. 

 Reproductive Health

The Massachusetts Medical Society is committed to preserving and expanding access to the full spectrum of medically-appropriate reproductive health care. The MMS believes family planning resources, including contraception, abortion and comprehensive pregnancy care, are important aspects of the continuum of reproductive health care.

 Social Determinants of Health

The Massachusetts Medical Society acknowledges that social determinants of health play a key role in health outcome and health disparities, and that addressing the social determinants of health for patients and communities is critical to the health of our patients, our communities, and a sustainable, effective health care system.

 Surprise Bills

The Massachusetts Medical Society is committed to addressing the problem of surprise bills and their impact on patients. Patients should be held harmless from surprise bills. MMS supports a full ban on balance billing for these unexpected out of network bills as part of a comprehensive legislative solution. MMS believes patients should not be saddled with unfair bills due to unavoidable out-of-network care.