Massachusetts House Bill H1400

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/27/25
• Refer: 2/27/25
• Refer: 4/3/25

Caption

Relative to maintenance of certification

Impact

If enacted, H1400 will bring significant changes to Chapter 6D and related chapters of the General Laws. It effectively removes the requirement for MOC in several healthcare contexts, including credentialing processes within hospitals and insurance reimbursement norms. By clarifying that MOC should not be a condition of licensure or hospital privileges, the bill attempts to reduce barriers for physicians entering or continuing in the medical workforce. This move is particularly relevant in the context of ensuring that healthcare providers can practice without undue constraints from certification programs that may vary widely in their relevance to the actual practice of medicine.

Summary

House Bill H1400, titled 'An Act relative to maintenance of certification', aims to amend existing laws concerning the requirement for physicians to maintain their certification through continued education programs. The bill specifies that organizations such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), hospitals, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) cannot mandate that physicians secure a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) as a condition for membership, employment, or receiving reimbursement for medical services. This shift is intended to alleviate the regulatory burdens placed on physicians by certification requirements that some argue do not necessarily enhance the quality of care provided to patients.

Contention

The discussion surrounding H1400 reflects a broader debate in the medical community about the value and necessity of continuous certification for healthcare professionals. Advocates for the bill argue that eliminating the MOC requirement will improve the accessibility of healthcare services and promote a more inclusive environment for physicians, particularly those who may face challenges in fulfilling ongoing educational demands. Conversely, opponents express concerns that reducing or removing MOC requirements may lower standards in medical care and possibly compromise patient safety and quality. As such, the bill has sparked discussions about the balance between regulatory oversight and practitioners' freedoms in the healthcare sector.