BY BISSAN BIARY, MMS PRACTICE SOLUTIONS OUTREACH MANAGER
As the health care landscape continues to change, we understand that private practice physicians are facing significant challenges — whether it’s dealing with administrative tasks, managing staffing shortages, or navigating reimbursement cuts.
Despite these hurdles, private practice physicians still have the power to shape their future, often with the support of the Massachusetts Medical Society’s (MMS) Advocacy and Government Relations, and Practice Solutions and Strategic Planning
teams, and our Committee on the Sustainability of Private Practice.
Private practice offers intrinsic rewards, such as autonomy in decision- making, the ability to forge lasting patient relationships, and the opportunity to innovate, allowing physicians to create their practice according to their values and aspirations.
The MMS recognizes these benefits and is committed to supporting physicians in private practice to maintain their independence and financial viability.
Recently, the MMS Advocacy and Government Relations team, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association and Health Care for All, championed new legislation to streamline the prior authorization process, reducing the time
physicians spend on paperwork and enhancing patient care. Our Advocacy team also addressed the critical shortage of primary care physicians by engaging with policymakers to attract and retain a diverse workforce and actively evaluates and
recommends changes to covered services, payment models, and the impact of emerging technologies to ensure fair compensation for physicians.
Our MMS Practice Solutions and Strategic Planning staff also explores strategies to enhance practice revenue, improve financial sustainability, and promote efficient operations. This includes mentorship and networking opportunities for physicians
considering or establishing private practices, offering guidance on economic feasibility, practice models, and the complexities of running an independent practice. The Society actively engages with industry partners on critical private practice
resources like electronic health records, payroll, reputation management, credentialing, marketing, contracting, and revenue cycle management to provide our members with essential practice tools so they can achieve high-performing outcomes
and long-term practice sustainability.
In this current health care environment, the MMS Committee on the Sustainability of Private Practice’s work is vital in empowering physicians to support transformation while maintaining the core values of private practice. By prioritizing patient
care, leveraging technology, and advocating for supportive policies, private practice physicians can thrive and continue to play an essential role in shaping the future of medicine.
Dr. Christopher Garofalo
Chris Garofalo, MD, a family medicine physician in South Attleboro, MA, and chair of the committee, shared, “I am very proud of the advocacy and mentorship the Committee on the Sustainability of Private Practice has engaged in on behalf of the
physicians and patients of the Commonwealth. We have had an excellent mix of primary care and subspecialty physicians representing multiple practice models as members of the committee, which results in more meaningful reports to our House
of Delegates and testimony on regulations and legislation at the state level. When we are contacted by a physician looking for assistance with transitioning to a private practice model of care, it is satisfying to know that everyone on our
committee is ready and willing to contribute.”
If you would like support from the MMS Committee on the Sustainability of Private Practice, please contact Bissan Biary, MMS Practice Solutions Outreach Manager, at bbiary@mms.org.
