1. Before you start
Patients or patient representatives can submit a complaint against a licensee for the Board to review. The preferred method is to use our Online Complaint Portal. There are also paper forms which you can mail to the Board upon request.
- Be specific in your complaint description and use a separate submission for each person or facility you are filing complaints against.
- Include copies of pertinent medical records, correspondence, contracts, photographs, and any other documents that support your complaint.
- The Bureau may request treatment or medical records to investigate your complaint if your complaint is about the treatment that you received as a patient. The online complaint portal includes an electronic authorization for the release of records.
- Paper complaint forms are available upon request. Please call Bureau of Health Professions Licensure- Office of Public Protection at (617) 973-0865 or email at bhplcomplaints@mass.gov.
2. File your complaint:
We will send the complainant a written notification of any action on the complaint. If we determine your allegations are possible violations of laws or regulations, we will open a complaint for investigation and provide a copy of the complaint to the licensee.
Anonymous complaints
We may, in our discretion, investigate an anonymous complaint if:
- The complaint is in writing and that the complaint allegations constitute violations of law or regulations warranting Board action;
- Preliminary inquiry reveals enough information to determine that the allegations may be true;
- Proving the allegations doesn't need the identification and/or testimony of the person filing the complaint.
All cases are reviewed and prioritized. The highest priority is given to cases where there is a potential or immediate threat of harm to a patient or patients.
File a complaint against a health care professional
BHPL oversees 21 boards of registration and certification in health professions, including nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, dentists, and more.
File a complaint against a physician, psychiatrist, or an acupuncturist
If you are looking to file a complaint against a physician, psychiatrist, or an acupuncturist please file your complaint with the Board of Registration in Medicine.
File a complaint against a health care facility
For concerns about care provided at a hospital, nursing home, or health care facility, file your complaint with the Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification.
Issues that are outside our authority
- Fee disputes, such as payment for missed appointments
- Billing disputes, such as the amount a licensee charges for services
- Personality conflicts (unless such rises to the level of unprofessional conduct)
For healthcare fraud reporting:
You may submit a health care fraud complaint against professionals and facilities licensed by the Board of Registration of Chiropractors and the Board of Registration of Allied Health.