40 medical boards and 1,800+ hospitals and facilities have removed stigmatizing mental health and substance use questions
Thanks to the sustained advocacy and partnership of the AMA and Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, there now are 40 state medical boards and more than 1,800 health systems, hospitals, medical centers, clinics and other care facilities that have removed intrusive mental health questions and stigmatizing language from their licensing and credentialing applications as of Sept. 19, 2025. Idaho and Pennsylvania are the only two states where all licensing boards have made changes consistent with the recommendations of the AMA and the Breen Foundation.
Two years ago, less than 20 medical boards and fewer than 100 hospitals had been verified as being free of stigmatizing language. Essential physician partners in this national campaign have included the American Osteopathic Association, Federation of State Medical Boards and Federation of State Physician Health Programs.
“The American Medical Association is proud that more than two million physicians and other health care workers can now seek mental health support or care for a substance use disorder without fear of professional repercussions,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD. “This milestone marks an important step forward in strengthening the health care workforce and ensuring better care for all patients. Too many medical students, residents, and practicing physicians avoid seeking the care they need out of fear of losing licensing or hospital privileges. The AMA remains committed to working with the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation and our partners to eliminate all stigmatizing questions from licensing and credentialing applications so every physician and health care worker can seek care safely and without stigma.”
“It’s incredible the pace of change that has happened, but the findings from our new Clinician Perceptions of Barriers to Access Mental Health Care report give us undeniable proof that we can’t stop now. The data confirms what we’ve always known: long-standing structural and cultural barriers are actively preventing our healthcare workforce from getting the help they may need,” said Corey Feist, co-founder and CEO of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation. “Our collective progress is proof change is possible, and this movement is only getting started in breaking down these barriers, empowering our care teams, and building a future where a healthy workforce is no longer a goal – it is a reality.”
Receiving the Wellbeing First Champion Challenge award from the Breen Foundation occurs when the AMA and Breen Foundation provide technical analysis of current language, recommend changes to be consistent with national best practices, and then the changes are verified. The AMA and Breen Foundation will work with any medical board, hospital or health system that wants to remove stigmatizing language from their applications to support physicians’ health and well-being.
Read more about the Breen Foundation’s work.
Read more about the AMA’s national campaign (PDF).
