[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.

       (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) factors that contribute to 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

[[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.

       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;

[[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.

       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.

  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.

                          ____________________