MAPA

MAPA Fact Sheet for on the MA Health Care Cost Containment Bill  (HCCC)

Signed Aug 6, 2012

Click here to read the MAPA HCCC Fact Sheet

MAPA Legislative Update 2012

Click here to read the Jan 2012 update

MAPA Ionizing Radiation Update 

Read more click here Feb 2012

Sanchez Act Encouraging Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Practice of Primary Care 

Committee on Public Health Legislation Fact Sheet

General Information on Legislation
Subject: An Act Encouraging Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Practice of Primary Care Bill Number: H1520

Overarching Intent

• Massachusetts is facing a critical shortage of primary care providers. In its 2010 workforce study, the Massachusetts Medical Society found that the labor market for family medicine and internal medicine is “critical.”
• By more effectively and more transparently using services provided by nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs), this bill eases the primary care shortage by making better use of the primary care professionals already practicing in the Commonwealth.
• If we are going to reduce health care costs, it is imperative to increase the workforce and workforce capabilities of primary care clinicians.
• Several studies have found that NPs and PAs provide primary care that is at least as effective and safe as that provided by physicians.
• Allowing NPs and PAs to practice at the top of their license could attract more of these clinicians to Massachusetts.

IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE AND CONTROLLING COSTS BY REFORMING HEALTH SYSTEMS AND PAYMENTS.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is forthwith to improve the quality of health care and control costs by reforming health systems and payments, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health and convenience.

An Act Relative to “Physician Services” Provided by Licensed Physician Assistants

House Bill 948
Sponsored by Rep. Peter Koutoujian and Senator Fred Berry

Intent of this Bill

This bill prevents individual or group accident and health insurance policies and health service contracts from imposing a practice or supervision restriction which is inconsistent with state and law.

More specifically, H. 948 would prevent individual or group accident and health insurance policies and health service contracts from refusing to reimburse a physician or hospital at the full rate for necessary medical or surgical services provided by a physician assistant practicing under the supervision of a physician, if the policy or contract would have paid for the same services when provided by a physician (such as physical exams, ordering and interpreting tests, treating patients, and assisting in surgery) alone.