Bill > H2486

This bill aims to protect the independence of clinical decision-making for healthcare providers in Massachusetts by establishing clear guidelines for how healthcare practices can be owned and operated. The legislation defines key terms such as "clinician with independent practice authority" and specifies that health care practices must be owned and controlled by licensed clinicians (like physicians or nurse practitioners) who have valid registration certificates. The bill prohibits entities like management services organizations from interfering with clinical judgments, including restrictions on controlling patient treatment time, discharge decisions, diagnostic terminology, or clinical orders. Healthcare practices must provide written certification to the Board of Registration in Medicine or Nursing, detailing their ownership structure and compliance with the law. The bill explicitly prevents healthcare facilities or organizations from directly or indirectly pressuring clinicians through disciplinary actions, threats, or coercion that could compromise their professional judgment. Additionally, the legislation requires practices with multiple independent practice clinicians to designate a medical director responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance, and it empowers regulatory boards to establish minimum requirements for healthcare practice conduct, including developing continuity plans in case of practice closure.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2486