[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4349 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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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