By Jeff Perkins, Esq., MMS Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Counsel
Illustration by Sioux Waks
The Massachusetts legislature concluded its formal sessions for the 193 General Court (2023–2024) state legislative term on July 31. As of this writing, the legislature failed to reach a compromise on many bills the Massachusetts Medical Society
(MMS) engaged with, including proposals to strengthen health care market oversight and regulate private equity investments,
lower prescription drug costs, and expand access to substance use disorder treatment (with a Senate proposal allowing communities to establish overdose prevention centers). The legislature did, however, successfully enact several MMS-supported policies, including bolstering maternal health, new gun safety measures,
and a FY25 state budget that allocated first-time funding for Physician Health Services and expanded legal parentage protections for LGBTQAI+ families.
Bolstering Maternal Health (H.4999)
The legislature passed a landmark maternal health bill designed to expand access to care options and support for parents. This comprehensive legislation establishes licensure pathways for
Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) and lactation consultants, facilitates the creation of freestanding birth centers, and requires health insurers to cover postpartum depression screenings and home visiting services.
The bill also incorporates several initiatives supported by the MMS, including measures to strengthen the perinatal mental health workforce and bolster access to doula services. The MMS has maintained longstanding concerns rooted in patient safety regarding the establishment of licensure for CPMs. We are grateful to have collaborated with lawmakers to address these concerns and secure provisions that strike an appropriate balance to advance equity and promote patient safety in out-of-hospital birth settings.
This session, Massachusetts passed the most significant gun safety legislation in a decade. The MMS supported several key provisions to strengthen the state’s existing firearms laws, including addressing untraceable “ghost guns” and 3D-printed weapons and funding violence prevention programs. The law also expands the 2018 “Reg Flag Law” to allow physicians
and other health care providers to petition for Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) to keep guns out of the hands of their patients who may be a danger to themselves or others. The Society was able to influence legislation securing legal
and liability protections for physicians, allowing them to only disclose necessary protected patient health information; the legislation now also stipulates physicians can’t be held liable for failing to petition for an ERPO.
Advancing Physician Wellness (FY25 Budget — H.4800)
The MMS successfully advocated for the inclusion of $250k in first-time funding to support the mission and critical services provided by Physician Health Services (PHS). PHS has experienced a surge in
demand for mental health-related services, reflecting the mounting toll of prolonged burnout exacerbated by the pandemic. Its sustainability depends on a new and consistent revenue source to support the growing need for its services. Securing
this funding in a down fiscal first year reflects the importance of addressing pervasive burnout impacting the physician workforce.
The Medical Society is a proud member of the Massachusetts Parentage Act Coalition, which successfully advocated for the passage of An Act to ensure legal parentage equality, which
modernizes our state laws to facilitate the establishment of legal parenthood for LGBTQAI+ families and those who use assisted reproduction. By legally recognizing the diverse ways families are formed, this law safeguards the rights of parents
and their children and ensures that all parents can make medical decisions on behalf of their children without delay or unnecessary legal barriers. By updating the Commonwealth’s parentage laws, more children will reap the physical, mental,
and emotional benefits of clearly defined legal parent-child relationships, improving the whole health of the child.
The legislature has signaled a commitment to continue working on many of the unresolved policy issues through the fall. The Medical Society will remain engaged with legislators and continue to advocate for key policy priorities.
None of the MMS advocacy work would be possible without our dedicated officers and members, especially our Committee on Legislation members and leadership. You too can get involved as an advocate by visiting the Grassroots Action Center,
where you will find active advocacy campaigns that need your support, toolkits for becoming an effective physician advocate, and information on health care issues concerning physicians. The Grassroots Action Center provides you with the resources
necessary to make a meaningful impact with your local lawmakers on issues affecting your patients, your practice, and the future of health care.
