Good news for foreign-trained physicians living in Massachusetts: they now have a clearer pathway to practice in the state, responding to critical healthcare shortages while mobilizing an under-utilized pool of experienced professionals.
Governor Maura Healey recently signed the Physician Pathways Act into law as part of a broader economic development bill. This legislation proposes an innovative solution to the uneven distribution of medical resources in the state.
The Act establishes a structured system for licensing foreign-trained physicians (ITPs).
Under this framework, qualified ITPs will begin by practicing under supervision in healthcare facilities serving rural or underserved areas for at least three years. Once this period is completed, they will be eligible for a full license to work anywhere in the state.
Amy Grunder, Director of Legislative Affairs for the Massachusetts Coalition to Advocate for Immigrants and Refugees (MIRA), explained the importance of this legislation: “Paradoxically, the more experience you have as a physician and the further away you are from your graduation date, the less likely you are to obtain residency,” she told Boston.com. This has historically hindered many qualified foreign-trained physicians, often forcing them to spend years in a residency system designed primarily for recent graduates.
Massachusetts has the highest physician-to-population ratio in the country, but the distribution is far from equitable. Nearly 40% of the state’s physicians were concentrated in Suffolk County in 2016, leaving rural and underserved communities struggling to access care, according to Boston.com. Data from the Department of Public Health (DPH) shows that in 2021, 34% of residents experienced difficulties accessing care, exacerbating the use of emergency departments for conditions that could have been treated in general practice.
Grunder also highlighted the hurdles many IMGs face after investing time and money to pass the U.S. medical licensing exam, only to discover that residency spots are inaccessible. “The process is not transparent at all,” she added, highlighting the challenges experienced professionals face when competing with recent medical graduates.
The Physician Pathways Act includes a mentoring component, allowing MFEs to practice under renewable one-year licenses in designated healthcare facilities. After completing this initial phase, they will be eligible for a renewable two-year license, focusing on specialties and shortage areas. At the end of this three- to six-year process, MFEs will become eligible for a permanent license.
Massachusetts is not the only state to integrate foreign-trained physicians into its healthcare system. Although it was the first state to propose such legislation in 2023, nine other states have since adopted similar measures. Grunder believes the new law will attract highly qualified physicians from across the country, strengthening the state’s medical workforce. “We’ll attract doctors living in other states. They’ll go where the opportunities are,“ she said.
Despite the political climate and challenges facing immigrants, Grunder remains optimistic about the program’s stability. “These are not the most vulnerable immigrants,“ she said. “They are here legally and have work authorization. “
The legislation is designed to address Massachusetts’ urgent healthcare needs while providing a long-awaited pathway for foreign-trained physicians to continue their vital work.
While the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Act represents good news for immigrant physicians in Massachusetts, it could further complicate the situation in countries like Haiti, where professionals in all fields are looking to leave the country at any cost. Massachusetts is one of the states with the highest rate of immigrants. It is the third most popular destination for Haitian immigrants, behind Florida and New York.
This article is based on a report by Boston.com