Coronavirus Health Care Worker Wellness Act of 2020
This bill requires the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to establish a grant program for health care providers to promote mental wellness among frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency must also study mental health and burnout among health care workers.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7255 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7255
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants
to health care providers to establish or expand programs dedicated to
promoting mental wellness among their health care workers, including
contractors, on the front lines of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 18, 2020
Mr. Krishnamoorthi (for himself, Mr. Katko, and Ms. Wilson of Florida)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants
to health care providers to establish or expand programs dedicated to
promoting mental wellness among their health care workers, including
contractors, on the front lines of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Coronavirus Health Care Worker
Wellness Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Health care workers on the front lines of the SARS-CoV-
2 pandemic experience extraordinary levels of stress that may
impact their immediate and long-term wellbeing.
(2) Health care workers experienced high rates of burnout
and mental health disorders before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) health care workers on the front lines of the SARS-CoV-
2 pandemic deserve access to resources that promote mental
wellness during the pandemic and in its aftermath; and
(2) the Federal Government has an interest in improving the
overall mental health and professional satisfaction of the
Nation's health care workforce.
SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PROMOTE MENTAL WELLNESS
AMONG THEIR WORKERS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in
this Act referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting through the Director
of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in collaboration
with one or more national medical professional organizations, shall
award grants to health care providers to establish or expand programs
dedicated to promoting mental wellness among their health care workers,
including contractors, on the front lines of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
(b) Process.--
(1) Application availability.--Not later than 30 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall make
available the application form and announce the process for
applying for a grant under this section.
(2) Application submission.--To seek a grant under this
section, an applicant shall submit an application to the
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information and assurances as the Secretary may require.
(3) Availability of funds.--Not later than 30 days after
approving an application for a grant under this section, the
Secretary shall make the grant funds available to the grantee.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary
for the period of fiscal years 2021 and 2022.
SEC. 5. COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON HEALTH CARE WORKER MENTAL HEALTH AND
BURNOUT.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in collaboration with one
or more national medical professional organizations, shall commission a
comprehensive study on health care worker mental health and burnout.
(b) Focus Areas.--The study under subsection (a) shall focus on
identifying--
(1) the factors that contribute to poor mental health and
burnout among health care workers;
(2) the barriers to health care workers seeking and
accessing mental health treatment;
(3) the implications of poor mental health and burnout
among health care workers for the health care system and
patient outcomes;
(4) the best ways to prevent and address the problems
described in paragraphs (1) through (3);
(5) the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the mental
health of health care workers and related preparedness
strategies for future health emergencies; and
(6) the efficacy of programs funded pursuant to section 4.
(c) Completion; Report.--The Secretary shall--
(1) ensure that the study commissioned under subsection (a)
is completed not later than the day that is 1 year after the
date of on which the Secretary makes the final expenditure of
funds for such study; and
(2) submit a report to the Congress not later than such day
on the findings and conclusions of such study, including
recommendations for addressing health care worker mental health
and burnout.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary
for the period of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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