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HD 3870

An Act to encourage, and improve the level of availability of physicians

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Day

The bill would create a Physicians Scholarship Program in Massachusetts to fund up to ten years of tuition for medical students in exchange for four years of service in state-appro

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Bill Summary · HD 3870

Summary of House Bill HD 3870: An Act to encourage, and improve the level of availability of physicians

Note: The bill is presented as a proposed act in the Massachusetts General Laws and, based on the provided text, is a newly introduced measure aimed at addressing physician shortages in the Commonwealth.

Overview and purpose

  • Objective: To address persistent shortages of physicians and other senior health care workers in Massachusetts by creating an official program to recruit, educate, and retain medical professionals within the state.
  • Rationale included in the bill highlights recent staffing erosion, retirement, workload pressures, compensation concerns, and the impact of events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Massachusetts is described as a national leader in medicine but facing ongoing workforce shortages that threaten the health care system.

Key provisions

1) Establishment of a new framework
- The bill would insert a new chapter into the Massachusetts General Laws to authorize a Physicians Scholarship Program (PSP).
- Administered by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and, specifically, the Department of Public Health (DPH).

2) Physicians Scholarship Program (PSP)
- Purpose: Provide grant and/or scholarship support to qualified students enrolled in accredited Massachusetts medical education programs to help cover educational costs.
- Eligibility and participation: Eligible students must meet specified standards (not fully enumerated in the provided text) and participate in the program.

3) Education and service obligations
- Attendance requirement: PSP participants must attend at least half-time, and preferably full-time, during their medical education and clinical training.
- Post-graduation service: Upon graduation, participants commit to at least four years of full-time service in a qualified medical institution or health care facility within Massachusetts.

4) Tuition and financial aspects
- The PSP offers up to ten years of complete tuition compensation during a student’s attendance at an accredited medical school program.

5) Program administration, data, and reporting
- DPH is authorized to develop and manage the PSP and may coordinate with other state agencies as needed.
- The program requires detailed record-keeping and annual public reporting with recommendations to refine the program.

Who would be affected

  • Eligible medical students in Massachusetts pursuing an MD (or equivalent) through accredited programs could participate and receive tuition support.
  • Participating medical schools and clinical training sites within Massachusetts.
  • Medical facilities and health care institutions across the Commonwealth that could benefit from a larger, more stable physician workforce.
  • State agencies (EOHHS and DPH) responsible for administering the program and reporting on its effectiveness.

Financial and implementation considerations

  • Funding details are not specified in the provided text. The provision of up to ten years of tuition coverage implies a significant financial footprint, requiring appropriation or dedicated funding sources.
  • Implementation would be overseen by DPH with coordination from other state agencies as needed.
  • The bill calls for an annual public report, enabling assessment of program outcomes and ongoing adjustments.

Timeline and status

  • The bill is described as a proposed act for the 2025-2026 General Court (One Hundred Ninety-Fourth General Court).
  • Filed: January 17, 2025 (House Docket No. 2388); introduced in the 2025-2026 session under House Docket No. 3870.
  • The status in the provided materials is not specified beyond introduction; it is a proposed measure and would require passage by the Legislature and signature (or other constitutional process) to become law.

Related context

  • A similar matter was filed in a prior session (House No. 3621 of 2023-2024), suggesting ongoing interest in physician workforce incentives.

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

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