April 20, 2011
Licensing Choices for non-practicing physicians can be
confusing. Physicians who are retiring from active practice have
choices to make concerning their license status. As licenses must
be renewed prior to a licensee's birthday on the year of
expiration, physicians must choose how to respond to the renewal
materials sent by the Board of Registration in Medicine. Of course,
some physicians also chose to retire their license on the date that
they complete their medical careers.
Here is some information from the Board on the retirement
process and choices among active or full, lapsed and inactive
licenses.
Active Status: A physician with an active
license may practice medicine and may prescribe medications. An
active licensee must complete the Board's Continuing Medical
Education requirements and must have malpractice liability
insurance coverage in the minimum amount of $100,000/$300,000. The
full license fee is $600.00. In certain cases, the Board may issue
a full license with restrictions.
Lapsed License: A lapsed license occurs when a
physician does not complete the renewal application by his or her
birthday. This is a revocation under the law and is treated
procedurally in a manner similar to a suspension or revocation for
cause. An application for renewal of a lapsed license is
complicated. Contact the Division of Law and Policy at the
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine if such a situation
occurs. The fee is $700.00.
The problems inherent with a lapsed license cannot be
understated. If you do not formally decline to renew your
license, your license will lapse. This is viewed as a revocation by
force of law and should be avoided if possible.
Should you seek to get an active license in
Massachusetts again you would have no inherent right of renewal,
would have to file a lapsed license and would be subject to
scrutiny of the Board regarding any weakness in your record or
prospects for safe and productive medical
practice.
A middle ground chosen by about 1300 physicians currently is
inactive status. An inactive licensee pays the full $600 fee which
gives a physician the freedom from having to go through the
extensive lapsed license process and development of a practice plan
which the Board requires for physicians returning from retirement.
Return from Retirement requires an application which is also
extensive. Full licensees have a protected interest in their right
to renew their licenses which is not available to individuals
without a license. Of course, the Board may reasonably require
makeup of CME requirements for inactive licensees out of practice
for a few years or more.
Inactive License: An inactive licensee may not
practice medicine or prescribe or provide direct or indirect
patient care. A licensee who is inactive is exempt from the
continuing medical education requirements and malpractice liability
insurance. A physician may change from inactive to active status by
completing the Active Status Request Form that is available at the
Board's website. Note that the Board's prohibition on practice
includes a ban on all prescribing including for family members and
yourself for routine ailments. An application for inactive status
is available at the Mass.Gov website
Retired Status: A retired licensee may not
practice medicine or prescribe or provide direct or indirect
patient care. When you no longer wish to practice medicine in
Massachusetts, you may apply for a retired status. The
Massachusetts Medical Society's website at www.massmed.org/retirement has a nine page
pamphlet on issues for the retiring physician which covers many
additional issues.
A retirement form is available at the Board's website. If you
would like to change your status to retired, download Application to Retire (.pdf, 1 page)
| Word (1 page)
Reactivated License: A physician who was
licensed in Massachusetts and retired from the practice of medicine
may submit an application to Reactivate his/her license. The fee is
$600.00.
A medical license is a tremendous personal achievement and
privilege. Careful consideration of the options should be given
before making any decisions.
