ARC issue brief provides legislative "physician wellness" best practices
As of May 2026, 44 medical licensure boards and more than 3,300 hospitals and other health care facilities have taken action to ensure their licensing/credentialing applications do not include intrusive mental health or substance use questions—benefiting more than 3.35 million physicians and other clinicians. This progress has come both voluntarily and as a result of state legislation and is based on recommendations from AMA, American Osteopathic Association, Federation of State Medical Boards, Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation and many other national organizations.
The newly updated issue brief, "Campaign to support medical student, resident and physician health and wellbeing" (PDF), provides specific examples for changes to licensing and/or credentialing applications. Legislative examples are from multiple states including Virginia, Indiana, South Dakota, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Colorado and Montana. The issue brief also details Washington state legislation focused on physician health programs. Visit the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation website to see the progress in your state.
