Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act
This bill establishes grants and requires other activities to improve mental and behavioral health among health care providers.
Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants to hospitals, medical professional associations, and other health care entities for programs to promote mental health and resiliency among health care providers. In addition, HHS may award grants for relevant mental and behavioral health training for health care students, residents, or professionals.
Additionally, HHS must conduct a campaign to (1) encourage health care providers to seek support and treatment for mental and behavioral health concerns, and (2) disseminate best practices to prevent suicide and improve mental health and resiliency among health care providers.
HHS must also study and develop policy recommendations on
Furthermore, the Government Accountability Office must report on the extent to which relevant federal grant programs address the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions and substance use disorders among health care providers.
[117th Congress Public Law 105]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 1117]]
DR. LORNA BREEN HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PROTECTION ACT
[[Page 136 STAT. 1118]]
Public Law 117-105
117th Congress
An Act
To address behavioral health and well-being among health care
professionals. <<NOTE: Mar. 18, 2022 - [H.R. 1667]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Dr. Lorna
Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 42 USC 201 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider
Protection Act''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 42 USC 294s note.>> DISSEMINATION OF BEST
PRACTICES.
<<NOTE: Deadline.>> Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall identify and
disseminate evidence-based or evidence-informed best practices for
preventing suicide and improving mental health and resiliency among
health care professionals, and for training health care professionals in
appropriate strategies to promote their mental
health. <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>> Such best practices shall include
recommendations related to preventing suicide and improving mental
health and resiliency among health care professionals.
SEC. 3. <<NOTE: 42 USC 294s note.>> EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
INITIATIVE ENCOURAGING USE OF MENTAL HEALTH
AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES BY HEALTH
CARE PROFESSIONALS.
(a) <<NOTE: Consultation.>> In General.--The Secretary, in
consultation with relevant stakeholders, including medical professional
associations, shall establish a national evidence-based or evidence-
informed education and awareness initiative--
(1) to encourage health care professionals to seek support
and care for their mental health or substance use concerns, to
help such professionals identify risk factors associated with
suicide and mental health conditions, and to help such
professionals learn how best to respond to such risks, with the
goal of preventing suicide, mental health conditions, and
substance use disorders; and
(2) to address stigma associated with seeking mental health
and substance use disorder services.
(b) Reporting.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy
and Commerce of the House of Representatives an update on the activities
and outcomes of the initiative under subsection (a), including a
description of quantitative and qualitative metrics used to evaluate
such activities and outcomes.
[[Page 136 STAT. 1119]]
(c) <<NOTE: Time period.>> Authorization of Appropriations.--To
carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024.
SEC. 4. PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AMONG THE HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE.
Subpart I of part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 294n et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 764. <<NOTE: 42 USC 294s.>> PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTAL
HEALTH AMONG THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
WORKFORCE.
``(a) <<NOTE: Grants. Contracts.>> Programs to Promote Mental
Health Among Health Care Professionals.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants or
contracts to health care entities, including entities that
provide health care services, such as hospitals, community
health centers, and rural health clinics, or to medical
professional associations, to establish or enhance evidence-
based or evidence-informed programs dedicated to improving
mental health and resiliency for health care professionals.
``(2) Use of funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant or
contract under this subsection shall use funds received through
the grant or contract to implement a new program or enhance an
existing program to promote mental health among health care
professionals, which may include--
``(A) improving awareness among health care
professionals about risk factors for, and signs of,
suicide and mental health or substance use disorders, in
accordance with evidence-based or evidence-informed
practices;
``(B) establishing new, or enhancing existing,
evidence-based or evidence-informed programs for
preventing suicide and improving mental health and
resiliency among health care professionals;
``(C) establishing new, or enhancing existing, peer-
support programs among health care professionals; or
``(D) providing mental health care, follow-up
services and care, or referral for such services and
care, as appropriate.
``(3) Priority.--In awarding grants and contracts under this
subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible
entities in health professional shortage areas or rural areas.
``(b) Training Grants.--The Secretary may establish a program to
award grants to health professions schools, academic health centers,
State or local governments, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, or
other appropriate public or private nonprofit entities (or consortia of
entities, including entities promoting multidisciplinary approaches) to
support the training of health care students, residents, or health care
professionals in evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies to
address mental and substance use disorders and improve mental health and
resiliency among health care professionals.
``(c) Grant Terms.--A grant or contract awarded under subsection (a)
or (b) shall be for a period of 3 years.
``(d) Application Submission.--An entity seeking a grant or contract
under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit an application to the Secretary
at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the
Secretary may require.
[[Page 136 STAT. 1120]]
``(e) <<NOTE: Evaluation.>> Reporting.--An entity awarded a grant
or contract under subsection (a) or (b) shall periodically submit to the
Secretary a report evaluating the activities supported by the grant or
contract.
``(f) <<NOTE: Time period.>> Authorization of Appropriations.--To
carry out this section and section 5 of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care
Provider Protection Act, there are authorized to be appropriated
$35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024.''.
SEC. 5. REVIEW WITH RESPECT TO HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL MENTAL
HEALTH AND RESILIENCY.
(a) <<NOTE: Deadline. Consultation.>> In General.--Not later than 3
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in
consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall--
(1) <<NOTE: Review.>> conduct a review on improving health
care professional mental health and the outcomes of programs
authorized under this Act; and
(2) <<NOTE: Reports.>> submit a report to the Congress on
the results of such review.
(b) Considerations.--The review under subsection (a) shall take into
account--
(1) the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions
among health professionals, and factors that contribute to those
mental health conditions;
(2) barriers to seeking and accessing mental health care for
health care professionals, which may include consideration of
stigma and licensing concerns, and actions taken by State
licensing boards, schools for health professionals, health care
professional training associations, hospital associations, or
other organizations, as appropriate, to address such barriers;
(3) the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency on
the mental health of health care professionals and lessons
learned for future public health emergencies;
(4) factors that promote mental health and resiliency among
health care professionals, including programs or strategies to
strengthen mental health and resiliency among health care
professionals; and
(5) the efficacy of health professional training programs
that promote resiliency and improve mental health.
(c) Recommendations.--The review under subsection (a), as
appropriate, shall identify best practices related to, and make
recommendations to address--
(1) improving mental health and resiliency among health care
professionals;
(2) removing barriers to mental health care for health care
professionals; and
(3) strategies to promote resiliency among health care
professionals in health care settings.
SEC. 6. GAO REPORT.
Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Congress a
report on the extent to which Federal substance use disorder and mental
health grant programs address the prevalence and severity of mental
health conditions and substance use disorders among health
professionals. Such report shall--
(1) <<NOTE: Analysis.>> include an analysis of available
evidence and data related to such conditions and programs; and
[[Page 136 STAT. 1121]]
(2) <<NOTE: Assessment.>> assess whether there are
duplicative goals and objectives among such grant programs.
Approved March 18, 2022.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1667:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 117-213 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 167 (2021):
Dec. 8, considered and passed House.
Vol. 168 (2022):
Feb. 17, considered and passed
Senate.
<all>
Mr. Pallone moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7522-7525)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1667.
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7538-7539)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 392 - 36 (Roll no. 419).(text: CR H7522-7523)
Roll Call #419 (House)On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 392 - 36 (Roll no. 419). (text: CR H7522-7523)
Roll Call #419 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Enacted as Public Law 117-105
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Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S800)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Became Public Law No: 117-105.
Became Public Law No: 117-105.