47 states and all Canadian provinces maintain some form of Physician Health Program (PHP). Suicide prevention is an important goal of PHPs.

A list of programs and a bit of information about each can be found at the Federation of State Physician Health Programs FSPHP website and at the CMA link.

Physician Health Programs have a variety of types of relationships with state licensing agencies.  Some information about the existing relationships can be found here.

Most programs allow for self reporting of illness or suspected impairment by practitioners of medicine or by concerned colleagues or others.  If no complaints or licensure actions have been initiated concerning a physician, the physician can enter into a voluntary and confidential relationship with the PHP to secure evaluation and treatment for any impairment. 

MN has prepared an extensive report on its PHP.

The AMA will consider a resolution in June 09 to investigate and make available all the applicable statutes and regulations concerning PHPs.  If approved, AMA will study and report back to the House of Delegates in June 2010.

AMA will be revising its model legislation regarding PHPs in the next year. 

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has created Model PHP Legislation