BURLINGTON, MA – December 11, 2023 – In a nation-leading step for caregiver wellbeing, Massachusetts is the first state in which every hospital, health system, and local health plan has committed to eliminating potentially stigmatizing or invasive questions from their credentialing processes. This is part of the healthcare community’s broader strategy to support clinician wellbeing and reduce stigma within the ranks of the profession, and to help connect workers with the mental health resources they need.

In a major victory, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which accredits health plans nationwide, will no longer require that the plans ask clinicians about their prior drug use. The change is the result of extensive internal review, coalition building, and advocacy from MHA and its partners.