HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2765        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2374

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Alice Hanlon Peisch

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act creating a special task force to make an investigation and study on issues related to the practice of defensive medicine.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2765        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2374

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2128 OF 2009-2010.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

_______________

An Act creating a special task force to make an investigation and study on issues related to the practice of defensive medicine.

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. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, there is hereby established a special task force to study issues relating to the practice of defensive medicine in the Commonwealth.  The task force shall investigate and report on the practice of defensive medicine in the Commonwealth, including costs to the state and insurers as a result of this practice, negative consequences arising out of the practice of defensive medicine and the impact of defensive medicine on patient care.  The task force shall also develop and recommend strategies to reduce or eliminate the impact of defensive medicine.

The task force shall be comprised of 15 members, including the House and Senate Chairs of the Joint Committee on Health Care, who shall serve as co-chairs of the task force; the House and Senate Chairs of the Joint Committee on Insurance; the House and Senate Chairs of the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance; a Senate member recommended by the Senate President; a Senate member of the minority party recommended by the minority leader of the Senate; a House member recommended by the Speaker of the House; a House member of the minority party recommended by the minority leader of the House; the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health or his designee; the dean of the University of Massachusetts Medical School; and one representative from each of the following organizations: the Massachusetts Hospital Association; the Massachusetts Medical Society and the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans.  Said task force shall file a report of its study, including its recommendations and drafts of any legislation, if necessary, with the clerks of the Senate and House of Representatives within one year of the effective date of this act.