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Physicians Insurance’s Parent Organization Testifies in Support of Liability Protection Legislation 

On Monday, April 13, the state legislative committee on Financial Services held a virtual hearing on S.2630, An Act to Provide Liability Protections for Health Care Workers and Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Heeding this important call, the legislature responded quickly and passed the legislation on Friday, April 17th. 

The Massachusetts Medical Society submitted written testimony and organized physicians with a call-to-action in strong support of S.2630, which provides immunity for health care professionals and health care facilities from civil suits for damages resulting from health care services provided during the COVID-19 emergency. These liability protections do not cover acts or omissions constituting gross negligence, recklessness or conduct with an intent to harm, or consumer protection actions brought by the attorney general, or false claims brought by or on behalf of Commonwealth. The liability protections would be retroactive to the declared state of emergency on March 10. The MMS urged the legislature to act swiftly to enact these critical protections to ensure health care providers do not face increased risk of unreasonable liability exposure and can instead focus on providing the best patient care possible under the most trying of circumstances. 

Learn more about MMS’s advocacy role in new physician liability protections passed into law.