By Ms. Candaras, a petition (accompanied by bill,
Senate, No. 654) of Gale D. Candaras, Christine E.
Canavan, Michael R. Knapik for legislation to establish a
western massachusetts public health access commission.
Health Care Financing.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. There shall be a special Commission to study the public health issues caused by a growing shortage of access by women in Western Massachusetts to quality obstetric, gynecological and neurosurgical care. Said Commission shall convene no later than July 1, 2007. The Commission shall be comprised of the following members: The Commissioner of Public Health who shall serve as the Chair, the Executive Director of the Board of Registration in Medicine, the Commissioner of Insurance, the Commissioner of Medicaid, one Obstetrician from Western Massachusetts, one neurosurgeon from Western Massachusetts and two members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate President and two members of the House to be appointed by the Speaker of the House. Said Commission shall convene public hearings to determine the health risk factors and access to care factors that are the result of decreased access to obstetric services and neurosurgical services due to current reimbursement rates by public and private payors and other cost issues associated with escalating malpractice premiums including but not limited to inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates and fee schedules for said medical specialties. These hearings shall also examine the effect of escalating malpractice rates on obstetric group practices and obstetricians maintaining part-time practice schedules. Upon completion of the hearing and analysis of the facts, said members of the Commission shall issue a report no later than November 1, 2007
