Public Citizen · FSMB · 2021–2023 Data
2021–2023 data Public-data reference. official source
Public dataset

Physician Disciplinary Actions by State

Public-data reference. for PlainDiscipline.

State rankings of doctor discipline rates per 1k physicians (2021-2023), from Public Citizen + FSMB data, with guides to verify actions.

State medical board disciplinary action rates for all 50 states and DC — ranked by enforcement, sourced from Public Citizen and FSMB public data.

51
States & DC Tracked
1,357,810
Licensed Physicians
13,841
Serious Actions (2021–2023)
10.19
National Rate per 1,000

Top 6 States: Discipline Rate Disparity vs National Baseline

Each bar shows a state's serious-discipline rate relative to the national average of 10.19 actions per 1,000 physicians. Bars at or above 2.0× indicate substantial overrepresentation per OCR descriptive thresholds.

Disparity ratio: state rate ÷ national rate

Alaska2.2747791952895×Kentucky2.012757605495584×WyomingOklahoma1.727183513248283×Rhode Island1.6290480863591759×New Mexico1.5250245338567223×
Source: Public Citizen HRG Publication #2235 (2021–2023) joined to FSMB Physician Census 2023. Disparity ratios are descriptive — a higher rate may reflect more active board oversight rather than more physician misconduct.

Types of Disciplinary Actions

From most to least severe — actions taken by state medical boards

License Revocation or Suspension 32,980

Had license to provide health care revoked or suspended by a state licensing authority, or surrendered license while a formal disciplinary proceeding was pending.

Conviction: Program-Related Crime 25,417

Convicted of a criminal offense related to the delivery of an item or service under Medicare, Medicaid, or other state health care program.

Conviction: Patient Abuse or Neglect 8,033

Convicted of a criminal offense relating to neglect or abuse of patients in connection with the delivery of a health care item or service.

Conviction: Healthcare Fraud 5,763

Convicted of a felony relating to fraud, theft, embezzlement, breach of fiduciary responsibility, or other financial misconduct in a health care program.

Conviction: Controlled Substance 3,528

Convicted of a felony relating to the unlawful manufacture, distribution, prescription, or dispensing of a controlled substance.

Managed Care Default 2,159

Default on health education loan or scholarship obligations, or default by managed care entity on contractual obligations.

Entity Controlled by Sanctioned Individual 1,488

Entity owned or controlled by an individual who has been excluded, or who has a specified ownership or control interest in a sanctioned entity.

Misdemeanor: Healthcare Fraud 931

Convicted of a misdemeanor relating to fraud, theft, embezzlement, or other financial misconduct in a health care program.

Exclusion or Debarment by Federal Agency 804

Suspended or debarred under federal or state law from participating in any federal or state procurement or non-procurement program.

Fraud, Kickbacks, or Prohibited Activities 728

Committed an act described in the anti-kickback statute, Stark law, or engaged in other prohibited referral or billing practices.

Misdemeanor: Federal or State Program Fraud 331

Convicted of fraud or false claims in any federal or state program.

Conviction: Program-Related Crime (Alt) 148

Convicted of a criminal offense related to the delivery of items or services under a federal health care program (alternative citation).

Failure to Provide Items or Services 77

Failed to provide medically necessary items or services when obligated under federal health care programs.

Misdemeanor: Controlled Substance 67

Convicted of a misdemeanor relating to the unlawful manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of a controlled substance.

Peer Review Organization Recommendation 53

Excluded based on recommendation of a Peer Review Organization (PRO) / Quality Improvement Organization (QIO).

Controlling a Sanctioned Entity 32

Individual who had a direct or indirect ownership or control interest in a sanctioned entity at the time of the conduct that was the basis for the sanction.

Breach of Settlement Agreement 28

Breached terms of a prior settlement agreement with HHS OIG.

Breach of Corporate Integrity Agreement 12

Breached terms of a Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with HHS OIG.

Failure to Supply Payment Information 12

Failed to supply requested information about payments or business transactions, subcontractors, or suppliers.

Incorrect Billing for Physician Services 8

Excluded for a pattern of submitting claims or billing for services not provided as claimed.

Making False Statements 2

Making false statements or misrepresenting material facts to federal agencies regarding health care matters.

Failure to Grant Immediate Access 1

Failed to grant immediate access to OIG for audit, records examination, or program evaluation.

Data Sources

Discipline rate data is sourced from Public Citizen Health Research Group publication "Ranking of the Rate of State Medical Boards' Serious Disciplinary Actions" (HRG Publication #2235, covering 2021–2023). Physician count data is from the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) Physician Data Summary Statistics 2023. Board contact information sourced from official state government websites.

This is aggregate state-level statistical data, not individual physician records. For physician-specific license status, contact the state board directly using the links on each state page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are physician disciplinary actions?

Disciplinary actions are formal sanctions taken by state medical boards against physicians who violate medical practice laws. These can include license revocations, suspensions, probation, fines, or required education. Actions are reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank and become part of a physician's permanent record.

Where does this data come from?

Our data comes from Public Citizen's analysis of the National Practitioner Data Bank and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB). These are the most comprehensive sources of physician disciplinary information in the United States.

Can I look up a specific doctor?

PlainDiscipline provides state-level aggregate data on disciplinary action rates, not individual physician records. To check a specific doctor, contact your state medical board directly or visit the NPDB (National Practitioner Data Bank) for self-query access.

Is this site free to use?

Yes. PlainDiscipline is completely free to use. No account, login, or payment required. The site is supported by advertising.