WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SD 1925

An Act relative to physician workforce data collection

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Nick Collins

The bill creates a voluntary program to collect and publicly report de-identified data on physicians’ demographics, languages, specialties, and practice locations to study diversit

House concurred
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 1925

Summary of Senate Docket No. 1925 — An Act relative to physician workforce data collection

Status: House concurred
Introduced: February 27, 2025
Committee: Referred to Public Health (2025)
Classification: Proposed bill

Purpose and intent

This bill establishes a program to collect and publicly report information about the cultural, ethical, linguistic, and educational composition of Massachusetts's physician workforce. The data are intended to support analysis of workforce diversity and its relationship to health outcomes across the Commonwealth, with data to be aggregated and de-identified.

Key provisions

  • New authority and data collection (Section 245)
    The Board of Registration in Medicine (BRM) shall collect data on:

    • Demographic information (including race, ethnicity, gender identity)
    • Linguistic information
    • Medical specialty or subspecialty
    • Primary and secondary practice location (if known at application/renewal)
    • Duration of practice in Massachusetts
    • Employment status (part time, full time, per diem)

  • Data submission timeline and recipients

    • BRM must provide collected data to the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) to be publicly available for evaluating physician workforce diversity and health outcomes.

  • Licensure applications (post-1/1/2027)
    Applicants for licensure under Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 112, Sec. 2, on or after January 1, 2027, must be asked to supply:
    1) Demographic information (race, ethnicity, gender identity)
    2) Linguistic information
    3) Medical specialty or subspecialty
    4) Primary and secondary practice location (if known)
    5) Duration of practice in MA
    6) Employment status

  • License renewals (post-1/1/2027)
    Renewal applications must include the same information (1–6) with added:
    7) Whether the licensee is currently practicing
    8) Primary and secondary practice location at renewal
    9) Employment status

    • After an initial submission, licensees will only be asked for changes to this information in subsequent renewals.

  • Voluntary participation and confidentiality
    Data collection is voluntary and shall be kept separate from licensure decisions. Data are not to influence licensure grants or renewals.

  • Data handling and public access
    Data collected under this section shall be aggregated and de-identified and publicly posted on CHIA’s website no later than 60 days after the end of each year. The bill prohibits selling this information to third parties.

  • Reporting requirement
    CHIA must report the data collected to the Clerks of the Massachusetts House and Senate, the Joint Committee on Public Health, and the Department of Public Health by February 28 of each calendar year.

  • Effective date
    The act becomes effective 90 days after enactment.

Agencies and stakeholders affected

  • Board of Registration in Medicine (BRM): required to collect and forward data.
  • Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA): responsible for public reporting and annual data dissemination.
  • License applicants and licensees: subject to optional (voluntary) data collection starting 2027, with renewals capturing updates.
  • Department of Public Health and legislative committees: receive annual data and provide oversight.

Procedural timeline and milestones

  • Effective date: 90 days after enactment.
  • January 1, 2027: start of data collection from new licensure applicants; data collection begins at renewal for existing licensees.
  • End of each year: data aggregated and de-identified; CHIA publishes data within 60 days after year-end.
  • February 28: CHIA reports annual data to legislative clerks and health committees.

Potential impact

  • Improves transparency regarding physician workforce diversity and geographic distribution.
  • Provides data to inform workforce planning and health outcomes research in Massachusetts.
  • Balances public disclosure with privacy by using aggregated, de-identified data and making participation voluntary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.