MMA Legislative Priority Bill on Physician Well-being Introduced

January 30, 2025

Legislation to support physician well-being and mental health was introduced in the Minnesota Senate this week.  

On January 30, Sen. Liz Boldon (DFL – Rochester) introduced SF 831, which would appropriate money for the MMA’s Treat Yourself First campaign. 

Treat Yourself First is an awareness and education campaign focused on addressing burnout and improving healthcare worker well-being. Treat Yourself First is designed to reduce stigma associated with receiving mental health treatment and encourage healthcare workers who are experiencing workplace-related fatigue to receive the care they need. Its advisory committee includes well-being experts from the MMA, the Minnesota Nurses Association, the Minnesota Dental Association, the Minnesota Pharmacists Association, the Minnesota Advance Practice Registered Nurse Coalition, and several physician specialty societies. 

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Academy of Medicine reported that burnout had reached “crisis levels” among the U.S. healthcare workforce. Six in 10 physicians have experienced symptoms of burnout, one in three have felt hopelessness or that they have no purpose, and more than half know another physician who has considered, attempted, or died by suicide. In addition, 35-54% of nurses and physicians, 61-75% of pharmacists, and 45-60% of medical students and residents reported symptoms of burnout. 

The widespread symptoms of burnout are further exacerbated by the fact that many mental health programs, even when implemented, face resistance from clinicians who are reluctant to disclose details about serious issues affecting their own mental health or that of colleagues. As a result, these resources have been widely underutilized. A 2017 study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that 40% of physicians reported reluctance to seek formal medical care for treatment of a medical condition. 

The aim of Treat Yourself First is to normalize the process of seeking help. A one-time appropriation is needed to 1) fully implement the campaign, 2) educate the healthcare workforce about the importance of healthcare worker well-being in maintaining a strong and resilient workforce, 3) reduce the stigma of mental health treatment, and 4) encourage early intervention and promote mental health support services for clinicians; and help foster a culture of safety. 

The bill was referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. It has yet to be introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives while DFL members continue to boycott the session. Following a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling last week, no official legislative action can be taken in the Minnesota House until a quorum of members is present.