Advancing Systems
Change through Advocacy
From the beginning, we understood that protecting the wellbeing of our healthcare workforce requires a dedicated focus on public policy.
Our advocacy efforts led directly to the development, passage, and funding of the landmark Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act—the nation’s first federal law dedicated to health worker wellbeing and mental health. Our advocacy helped secure the bill’s reauthorization through fiscal year 2030, and we continue to push for full funding.
We continue to champion public policies that transform systems and culture in order to protect health workers’ wellbeing and mental health.
Our Advocacy Priorities
We advocate for public policies that protect health workers’ wellbeing and mental health, including:
Securing Federal Funding for Life-Saving Health and Wellbeing Programs: We urge Congress to fully fund the life-saving programs established under the Lorna Breen Act, consistent with the law’s reauthorization through FY2030.
Protecting Safe, Confidential Access to Mental Health Care: We support the development and passage of legislation at the state and federal levels that safeguards health workers’ privacy, ensuring they can confidentially seek and receive mental health care, including outside of their immediate place of employment, and without professional repercussions.
Reducing Administrative Burdens to Prevent Burnout: We support public policies that reduce health workers’ administrative burdens and prevent burnout, including the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, so health workers can focus on patients rather than administrative tasks.
Establishing Safeguards for Physical and Psychological Safety: We champion public policies and regulatory models that ensure health workers feel physically and psychologically safe so they can focus on living their callings to care for patients.
State Laws Supporting Health Workers’ Wellbeing and Mental Health
States across the country are taking crucial steps to prioritize health workers’ wellbeing and mental health. We collaborate with state-based partners to get laws enacted and track these efforts to highlight models for progress in improving workplace environments and access to mental health care for our healthcare workforce.
For example, in New Jersey, the “Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act” became law in 2025 to streamline and standardize the prior authorization process to reduce administration burden and better protect both health workers and patients.
Another example is in Utah where “Scott’s Bill” was enacted in honor of Dr. Scott Jolley. The law ensures health workers can access their own mental health treatment outside of their place of employment so they can maintain privacy from colleagues and avoid workplace conflicts of interest.
Improving Workplace Environments
- Arizona: Reforming Prior Authorization
- Arizona: Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Workers
- Arizona: Protecting Health Workers Who Speak Up
- Minnesota: Removing Mental Health Questions from Credentialing and Establishing PHP
- New Jersey: Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization
- Ohio: Supporting Health Worker Safety
- Virginia: Modernizing Prior Authorization Process
Supporting Mental Health Care Access
- Arizona: Ensuring Confidentiality of Peer Support
- Colorado: Removing Mental Health Questions from Licensing for all Health Professions
- Illinois: Removing Mental Health Questions from Medical Licensing
- Michigan: (In Committee) Ensuring Confidentiality of Past Mental Health History in Licensing
- New Jersey: (Introduced) Protecting Licensed Health Workers Seeking Mental Health Care
- Utah: Advancing Access Outside of Workplace
- Virginia: Removing Mental Health Questions from Licensing for all Health Professions
- Virginia: Protecting Careers When Accessing Care
Make Your Voice Heard: Take Action for Health Workers’ Wellbeing
Our collective strength is driven by individual action. We’ve made it simple to reach out directly to members of Congress and state licensure boards to help enable safer, confidential access to mental health care and create a system that supports and values the people who care for us.
Urge Congress to Fund Life-Saving Health and Wellbeing Programs
Ask State Licensure Boards to Protect Mental Health Access & Privacy
Contact your state’s boards below, urging them to review and revise their licensing applications so they are entirely free from intrusive questions regarding mental health and substance use conditions.
Ask State Licensure Boards to Protect Mental Health Access & Privacy
Contact your state’s boards below, urging them to review and revise their licensing applications so they are entirely free from intrusive questions regarding mental health and substance use conditions.
Advocate for Health Workers in Your State
Active State Campaigns: