- Wellbeing First Champion Challenge Program makes it safer for more than 4.1 million health workers to access mental health care
- FAA should preserve national standards for in-flight emergency medical kits
- FDA should revisit authorization of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)
- AMA supports Bipartisan House bill on medical-legal partnerships
- More articles in this issue
Wellbeing First Champion Challenge Program makes it safer for more than 4.1 million health workers to access mental health care
More than 4.1 million health workers now have a safer, confidential path to accessing care for mental health conditions and substance use disorders, according to the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation. The Foundation, which leads the ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare coalition announced this week the continued progress to remove inappropriate, stigmatizing questions on licensing and credentialing applications as well as peer reference forms.
There now are 46 medical boards, 36 pharmacy, nursing and dental boards, and 1,087 hospitals and 3,306 other care facilities that have been verified as being consistent with the Foundation’s and AMA recommendations that their licensing and credentialing applications are free of intrusive questions related to mental health and substance use.
“The American Medical Association is proud of the remarkable progress made over the past three years to break down barriers to mental healthcare for physicians and other healthcare workers,” said Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH, President, AMA. “When licensing boards, hospitals and health systems make the changes recommended by the AMA and the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, they demonstrate the leadership needed to create a safer environment for health professionals and patients. The AMA and our partners remain committed to eliminating stigmatizing language and practices from licensing and credentialing so every health care worker can seek care without fear of jeopardizing their career.”
The progress, which is a direct result of the AMA’s partnership with the Foundation, represents a significant increase from Sept. 2025, when there were 40 medical boards, 1,850 hospitals and other care facilities. In 2024, there were only 29 medical boards and fewer than 400 hospitals that were verified as consistent with AMA and the Foundation’s recommendations.
“Changing the paperwork is only the beginning. The real transformation happens when leaders openly normalize mental health care,” said Corey Feist, CEO and co-founder of the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation. “The relentless commitment to transparent communication and visible advocacy for and access to help-seeking builds the trust and psychological safety needed to save the lives and sustain the careers of our healthcare workforce. We will continue this work until every health worker in every state and care setting across the country is fully protected.”
In addition to removing barriers to mental health care, the AMA is working to address the systemic and organizational factors that drive physician burnout and undermine professional well-being. Through initiatives such as the Joy in Medicine® Health System Recognition Program, Organizational Biopsy® and AMA STEPS Forward®, the AMA equips health systems with evidence-based tools and strategies to improve the practice environment and create the conditions for physicians to thrive.
Learn more about the AMA’s campaign to support medical students’ and physicians’ health and wellness.
FAA should preserve national standards for in-flight emergency medical kits
On Sept. 25, the AMA submitted comments (PDF) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on a proposed rule that would determine what medications, diagnostic tools, and other emergency supplies physicians can rely on when responding to an in-flight medical emergency. While the AMA strongly supported modernizing the current emergency medical kit (EMK) and first-aid kit requirements, it opposed FAA’s proposal to eliminate federal minimum contents and instead allow individual airlines to decide what is “adequate.” The AMA warned that this could leave physicians facing the same emergency with materially different tools depending on which airline a patient happened to board. Instead, the AMA urged FAA to establish a consistent national clinical minimum based on the Aerospace Medical Association’s evidence-based recommendations, while preserving flexibility for airlines to go beyond that standard.
The AMA also called on FAA to require core diagnostic and monitoring equipment, such as blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters, glucometers, thermometers and penlights; ensure medications are supplied in formulations and delivery systems that can be used safely in flight; identify lifesaving medications and devices that trained crewmembers may access and use; require universal precautions kits for responders; and establish standardized national reporting of in-flight medical events and physician-led clinical oversight of kit requirements.
The AMA emphasized that physicians who answer an in-flight call for help are treating a patient in an environment they did not design and cannot control. Wherever that patient happens to be flying, a physician who gets out of their seat to help should be able to trust that the essential tools needed to diagnose, treat and monitor the patient will be there when they reach for them.
FDA should revisit authorization of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)
In a letter (PDF) this week, the AMA urged the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Tobacco Products to revisit its authorization of flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). The AMA highlighted hazards related to smoking and recommended revoking the authorization of ENDS products with fruit characterizing flavors. The AMA also recommended adopting a policy against authorization of any ENDS products with characterizing flavors, including but not limited to fruit, candy, dessert, mint and menthol flavors, that may enhance the appeal of such products to youth.
The letter cited findings from the most recent National Youth Tobacco Survey that flavored ENDS products are particularly appealing to young users and can sometimes be viewed as less harmful than traditional tobacco products. Nonetheless, the letter stated that “ENDS products contain nicotine, aerosol, and other potentially harmful substances that put users of all ages at risk of addiction and other health problems.”
The letter also called for the agency to adopt policies to reduce the appeal of ENDS products to youth and prevent them from accessing the products. “Without such policies, the AMA fears more young people will be exposed to the harms of ENDS use, including an increased risk of initiating or transitioning to traditional cigarettes and other combusted tobacco products."
AMA supports Bipartisan House bill on medical-legal partnerships
The overarching health of patients is impacted by numerous factors beyond clinical circumstances alone, including social determinants and access to crucial support services. In fact, access to needed social services and medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) can often be a crucial factor contributing to improved patient healthcare outcomes. In light of this reality, the AMA sent a letter (PDF) on Sept. 29 in support of H.R. 6728, the Linking Seniors to Needed Legal Services Act. This bipartisan legislation creates grants for states to support the adoption of evidence-based approaches to establishing or improving real-time linkages between health and social services and support systems for older adults through MLPs.
As outlined in the letter signed by AMA CEO John Whyte, MD, MPH, “MLPs ‘address health-harming legal needs that disproportionately affect people at or near the poverty level’ by using ‘training, screening and legal care to improve patient and population health.’” H.R. 6728 will allow states to use these grants to either create or maintain existing MLP programs.
In addition, the letter states that, “Older adults are much more likely to have complex healthcare needs and are also more likely to face barriers in care and care coordination. On top of this, in 2022, a study found that low-income older adults struggled to access civil legal services for things such as healthcare.” Therefore, this legislation can help plug a critical gap in the relationship between physicians, patients and access to important legal assistance.
Representatives Eugene Vindman (D-VA) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) introduced H.R. 6728. However, there is currently no Senate companion bill. AMA is pleased to support this legislation and urges all members of the House of Representatives to cosponsor this important bill.
