Bill Summary
The "Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act" is a bill that aims to address the mental health and well-being of health care professionals. It authorizes the establishment of a grant program to fund and support training for health care students, residents, and professionals in evidence-based strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and other mental health conditions. The bill also includes provisions for a national education and awareness campaign to encourage health care professionals to seek support and treatment for their own mental health concerns, as well as grants for health care providers to promote mental and behavioral health among their workforce. Additionally, the bill mandates a comprehensive study to identify factors contributing to mental health conditions and burnout among health care professionals and make recommendations for improvement.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation could provide funding for health professions schools and academic health centers to train healthcare students and professionals in evidence-based strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and other mental and behavioral health conditions. This could potentially have a positive impact on the mental and emotional well-being of healthcare professionals, leading to better job satisfaction and improved patient care.
2. The legislation could also support an education and awareness campaign to reduce stigma and encourage healthcare professionals to seek mental and behavioral health support for themselves. This could help address the barriers to seeking and accessing mental health treatment that many healthcare professionals face, potentially improving their overall well-being and ability to provide care to patients.
3. The legislation could commission a comprehensive study on healthcare professional mental and behavioral health, which could lead to recommendations for improving the system and removing barriers to care. This could have far-reaching effects on the healthcare industry, potentially leading to better mental health support and resources for professionals and ultimately improving the quality of care for patients.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4349 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4349
To address behavioral health and well-being among health care
professionals.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 29, 2020
Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mr. Young, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Cassidy)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To address behavioral health and well-being among health care
professionals.
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 ``Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider
Protection Act''.
SEC. 2. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING TRAINING FOR HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS.
Subpart 1 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. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING TRAINING FOR HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS.
``(a) Grant Program.--The Secretary shall establish a program to
award grants to health professions schools, academic health centers,
State or local governments, or other appropriate public or private
nonprofit entities for funding and participation in health professions
and nursing training activities for the training of health care
students, residents, or professionals in evidence-informed strategies
to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, behavioral health conditions,
including mental health conditions and substance use disorders, among
health care professionals, and in evidence-informed strategies to
improve health care professionals' well-being and job satisfaction.
``(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under subsection
(a), an entity described in such subsection shall submit to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require.
``(c) Reporting Requirement.--Each entity awarded a grant under
this section shall periodically submit to the Secretary a report
evaluating the activities supported by the grant.
``(d) Best Practices.--The Secretary may identify and disseminate
evidence-informed best practices for reducing and preventing suicide
and burnout among health care professionals, and training health care
professionals in appropriate strategies and promoting their mental and
behavioral health and job satisfaction. Such best practices shall
include specific recommendations for reducing and preventing suicide,
burnout, and other mental and behavioral health concerns among health
care professionals during or in the aftermath of a pandemic, natural
disaster, or other crisis.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary
for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.''.
SEC. 3. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGING USE OF MENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES BY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in
consultation with the medical professional community, shall establish a
national evidence-based education and awareness campaign targeting
health care professionals to encourage such professionals to seek
support and treatment for their own mental and behavioral health
concerns, help such professionals identify risk factors in themselves
and others and learn how best to respond to such risks, with the goal
of reducing or preventing suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral
health conditions, and to address stigma associated with seeking mental
and behavioral health support and treatment.
(b) Reporting.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall provide an update on the campaign's
progress, including a plan for evaluation that includes quantitative
and qualitative metrics, and a media and dissemination plan, to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2021 through 2025.
SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PROMOTE MENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AMONG THEIR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
WORKFORCE.
Subpart 1 of part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 294n et seq.), as amended by section 2, is further amended
by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 764A. GRANTS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PROMOTE MENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AMONG THEIR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
WORKFORCE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to health care
providers, including medical professional associations, to establish or
expand evidence-informed programs dedicated to promoting mental and
behavioral health among their employees (including contractors) or
members who are working on the front lines of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
``(b) Use of Grant Funds.--A health care provider awarded a grant
under subsection (a) shall use amounts under the grant to implement a
new program or protocol or expand an existing program or protocol to
promote mental and behavioral health among employees (including
contractors) or members who have previously treated or otherwise
served, or are currently treating or otherwise serving, patients
diagnosed with COVID-19, which may include any of the following:
``(1) Educating employees, including contractors, or
membership about risk factors for and signs of self-harm and
suicide and mental and behavioral health conditions in
accordance with evidence-based practices and standards.
``(2) Establishing new or enhancing existing evidence-based
programs or protocols for preventing mental and behavioral
health conditions, suicide, or self-harm.
``(3) Establishing new or enhancing existing peer-support
programs among employees (including contractors) or members.
``(4) Mental and behavioral health treatment, follow up
services and care, or referral for such services identified as
appropriate as a result of the screenings or prevention
programs and protocol described in paragraphs (1) and (2).
``(c) Grant Terms.--A grant awarded under subsection (a)--
``(1) shall be for a period of 3 years; and
``(2) may be renewed subject to the requirements of this
section.
``(d) Application Submission.--A health care provider seeking a
grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary
at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as
the Secretary may require.
``(e) Priority.--Priority shall be given to applications from
health care providers located in current or former COVID-19 hotspots,
as determined by the Secretary or health care providers which have
diagnosed or treated a higher share of COVID-19 patients, as determined
by the Secretary.
``(f) Reporting.--A health care provider awarded a grant under
subsection (a) shall periodically submit to the Secretary a report
evaluating the activities supported by the grant.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for the period of
fiscal years 2021 through 2023.''.
SEC. 5. COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL MENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND BURNOUT.
Subpart 1 of part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 294n et seq.), as amended by section 4, is further amended
by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 764B. COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL MENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND BURNOUT.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with
stakeholders, shall conduct a review and submit recommendations to
Congress on policies to improve health care professional mental health
and prevent burnout.
``(b) Considerations.--The study under subsection (a) shall focus
on identifying--
``(1) the factors that contribute to mental and behavioral
health conditions and burnout among health care professionals;
``(2) the barriers to seeking and accessing mental and
behavioral health treatment for health care professionals,
including stigma and concerns about licensing and
credentialing;
``(3) the implications of poor mental and behavioral health
and burnout among health care professionals for the health care
system, the health care workforce, and patient outcomes;
``(4) the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the mental
and behavioral health of health care professionals and related
preparedness strategies for future health emergencies;
``(5) the factors that promote mental and behavioral health
and resiliency among health care professionals, including
programs or protocols that strengthen mental and behavioral
health or prevent burnout among health care professionals; and
``(6) the efficacy of health professional training programs
that promote resiliency and improve mental health.
``(c) Recommendations.--The study required under subsection (a)
shall include recommendations related to--
``(1) improving mental and behavioral health and preventing
burnout among health care professionals;
``(2) removing barriers to mental and behavioral health
care for health care professionals; and
``(3) strategies to promote resiliency among health care
professionals and other employees and contractors in health
care settings.
``(d) Completion.--The Secretary shall ensure that the study under
subsection (a) is completed and submitted to Congress and made publicly
available not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this
section.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for the period of
fiscal years 2021 through 2023.''.
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