We need your help! The Massachusetts House will decide this Thursday whether to include the Physician Pathway Act in its version of our state’s omnibus economic development bill, the Mass Leads Act. The PPA would address our state's acute physician shortage by mobilizing the expertise of experienced internationally trained physicians (ITPs) and putting them to work where we most need them.

Since it was filed last March, the Mass Leads Act has had meteoric progress, clearing two committees with the Physician Pathway Act included. It looked like clear sailing for this important legislation, which would build our physician workforce at a time of extraordinary need. However, on Monday House Ways and Means redrafted the bill without the Physician Pathway legislation. The full House will vote on it this Thursday (June 27th).

This is where you come in! State representatives Jack Lewis and Mindy Domb have filed an amendment to reinstate the legislation, which would provide a pathway to full licensure for qualified internationally-educated physicians with a year or more of practice experience abroad, in exchange for 3 to 6 years of practice in our federally-qualified and community health centers, where the need for physicians is greatest.