Pennsylvania Eases Credentialing Process to Support Physician Mental Health 

Breaking Down Barriers to Mental Healthcare Access 

Pennsylvania has joined a growing movement of states working to eliminate barriers that prevent physicians from seeking mental health treatment. The state's regulatory changes focus on removing intrusive mental health questions from credentialing processes, addressing a longstanding issue that has deterred healthcare professionals from getting the care they need. 

The initiative recognizes a critical problem in healthcare: physicians often avoid seeking mental health treatment due to fears about professional repercussions, with states and health systems now amending licensure and credentialing forms to remove mental health-related questions. This concern has contributed to higher rates of burnout and suicide among healthcare professionals compared to the general population. 

 

National Context and Momentum 

Pennsylvania's action is part of a broader national effort to modernize credentialing practices. As of May 2025, 635 hospitals and care facilities nationwide have verified their credentialing applications do not include intrusive mental health questions, benefiting nearly 274,000 credentialed health workers. This represents approximately 10% of the nearly 6,100 hospitals in the country. 

The movement has gained significant traction in recent years, with 50 licensure boards and 635 hospitals eliminating intrusive mental health questions and stigmatizing language from their licensing or credentialing applications, with those changes benefiting nearly 1.4 million healthcare workers. 

 

Legal and Regulatory Foundation 

The push to remove intrusive mental health questions has strong legal backing. Court decisions and the United States Department of Justice have established that such questions violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), providing a legal framework for these changes. 

Medical organizations have recognized that traditional credentialing questions created an inappropriate barrier to care. Some physicians are deterred from seeking mental health care because of credentialing concerns, with questions about past mental health care deterring doctors from getting care. 

 

Impact on Physician Well-being 

The changes address a fundamental contradiction in healthcare: medical professionals who dedicate their careers to healing others often cannot access mental health treatment without risking their livelihoods. Fear of professional consequences has historically prevented physicians from seeking help for depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and other mental health conditions. 

By removing these barriers, Pennsylvania and other states are creating an environment where physicians can prioritize their own well-being without fear of career damage. This approach recognizes that physician mental health directly impacts patient care quality and safety. 

 

Broader Implications 

The AMA's goal is to see 100% of inappropriate questions removed so physicians are free to seek mental health care without fear. Pennsylvania's participation in this effort represents progress toward this comprehensive goal. 

The credentialing changes reflect a shift in how the medical profession approaches physician wellness. Rather than treating mental health as a potential liability, the new approach recognizes it as essential to maintaining a healthy, effective healthcare workforce. 

Sources 

• Medwave.io 
• Post-Gazette.com 
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