Protecting Health Care Professionals Who Seek Behavioral Health Care 

NJDA Supports S2635/A2289 

Take Action Below 

Health care professionals face significant stress in caring for patients, yet many state licensing applications still ask broad questions about whether an applicant has ever received counseling, therapy, psychiatric care, or other behavioral health treatment. These questions can discourage clinicians from getting help, even when they are fully capable of practicing safely. 

S2635/A2289 takes a balanced approach. It does not prevent licensing boards from protecting patient safety. Instead, it refocuses licensing questions on whether an applicant has a current impairment that affects safe practice, rather than whether they have ever received behavioral health care. 

The legislation would: 

• Encourage health care professionals to seek care without fear of automatic licensing consequences 

• Reduce stigma around behavioral health treatment 

• Preserve licensing boards' ability to act when there is a current impairment 

• Protect confidentiality for applicants who disclose behavioral health information 

• Ensure that treatment alone is not used as the sole basis to deny, restrict, or condition a license 

Dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants are among the health care professionals this bill protects. Clinician wellbeing is directly tied to workforce retention, patient safety, and access to care across New Jersey. NJDA supports S2635/A2289 because a licensing system should support safe practice while also encouraging professionals to take care of their own health. 

Your legislators need to hear from you. 

S2635/A2289 is currently before the New Jersey Assembly Regulated Professions Committee and the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. Legislators need to hear from constituents who understand why this issue matters to health care professionals and the patients they serve.

Using the form below takes under two minutes.

Because this bill is currently pending before specific legislative committees, the form will first ask you to enter your address so it can determine whether one of your legislators serves on the relevant Assembly or Senate committee.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to send:

• A message to your Assembly representative on the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee
• A message to your Senator on the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
• Messages to both, if both apply to your district

After you enter your information, the form will show you the message or messages available for your district. Your message will then be automatically routed to the appropriate legislator.

If no legislator appears after you enter your address, it likely means your current Assembly members or Senator do not serve on the committees currently considering this bill. NJDA will continue monitoring S2635/A2289 and will notify members if the bill advances and there is another opportunity to take action on this legislation.