Congressional Record, Volume 167 Issue 140 (Thursday, August 5, 2021)

[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 140 (Thursday, August 5, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5985-S5987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

DR. LORNA BREEN HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PROTECTION ACT

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 69, S. 610.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

A bill (S. 610) to address behavioral health and well-being
among health care professionals.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause
and insert in lieu thereof the following

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.

[[Page S5986]]

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.

Mr. SCHATZ. I ask unanimous consent that the Murray-Burr amendment at
the desk be agreed to; that the committee-reported substitute
amendment, as amended, be agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 2622) was agreed to as follows

(Purpose: To improve the bill with respect to review of program
effectiveness)

In section 5(b), strike paragraph (1) and insert the
following:
(1) the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions
among health professionals, and factors that contribute to
those mental health conditions;
At the end, add the following:

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.

The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, as
amended, was agreed to.
Mr. SCHATZ. I ask that the bill, as amended, be read a third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read
the third time.
Mr. SCHATZ. I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the
question is, Shall the bill pass?
The bill (S. 610), as amended, was passed, as follows

S. 610

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.

SEC. 3. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS INITIATIVE ENCOURAGING USE OF
MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
SERVICES BY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.

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.

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;

[[Page S5987]]

(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.

Mr. SCHATZ. I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be
considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

____________________