[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 610 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 610
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
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. DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES.
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. Such best practices shall include recommendations
related to preventing suicide and improving mental health and
resiliency among health care professionals.
SEC. 3. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS INITIATIVE ENCOURAGING USE OF MENTAL
HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES BY HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS.
(a) 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 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 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.
(c) 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. GRANTS 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. GRANTS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AMONG THE HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants related to
improving mental health and resiliency among health care professionals.
``(b) Grants to Promote Mental Health Among Health Care
Professionals.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants 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
under this subsection shall use amounts under the grant 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 under this subsection,
the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities in
health professional shortage areas or rural areas.
``(c) 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.
``(d) Grant Terms.--A grant awarded under subsection (b) or (c)
shall be for a period of 3 years.
``(e) Application Submission.--An entity seeking a grant under
subsection (b) or (c) shall submit an application to the Secretary at
such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the
Secretary may require.
``(f) Reporting.--An entity awarded a grant under subsection (b) or
(c) shall periodically submit to the Secretary a report evaluating the
activities supported by the grant.
``(g) 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) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with relevant
stakeholders, shall conduct a review and, not later than 3 years after
the date of enactment of this Act, submit a report to Congress related
to improving health care professional mental health and resiliency and
the outcomes of programs authorized under this Act.
(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 report to Congress 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 include an analysis of available evidence and data related
to such conditions and programs, and shall assess whether there are
duplicative goals and objectives among such grant programs.
Passed the Senate August 6 (legislative day, August 5),
2021.
Attest:
Secretary.
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 610
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To address behavioral health and well-being among health care
professionals.