Authorizing Legislation

PUBLIC LAW 117–105—MAR. 18, 2022

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DR. LORNA BREEN HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
PROTECTION ACT

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136 STAT. 1118

PUBLIC LAW 117–105—MAR. 18, 2022

Public Law 117–105
117th Congress
An Act
Mar. 18, 2022
[H.R. 1667]
Dr. Lorna Breen
Health Care
Provider
Protection Act.
42 USC 201 note.
42 USC 294s
note.
Deadline.

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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.

Recommendations.

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To address behavioral health and well-being among health care professionals.

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of
this Act, 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.

42 USC 294s
note.

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

Consultation.

(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—
(1) 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
(2) 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.

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PUBLIC LAW 117–105—MAR. 18, 2022

136 STAT. 1119

(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.

Time period.

SEC. 4. PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AMONG THE
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE.

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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:

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‘‘SEC. 764. PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AMONG THE
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE.

42 USC 294s.

‘‘(a) PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AMONG HEALTH
CARE PROFESSIONALS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award grants or
contracts 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 evidenceinformed programs dedicated to improving mental health and
resiliency for health care professionals.
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity receiving a grant
or contract under this subsection shall use funds received
through the grant or contract 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, evidencebased 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 and contracts under
this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible
entities in health professional shortage areas or rural areas.
‘‘(b) 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 evidenceinformed strategies to address mental and substance use disorders
and improve mental health and resiliency among health care professionals.
‘‘(c) GRANT TERMS.—A grant or contract awarded under subsection (a) or (b) shall be for a period of 3 years.
‘‘(d) APPLICATION SUBMISSION.—An entity seeking a grant or
contract under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit an application
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied
by such information as the Secretary may require.

Grants.
Contracts.

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136 STAT. 1120
Evaluation.

Time period.

PUBLIC LAW 117–105—MAR. 18, 2022

‘‘(e) REPORTING.—An entity awarded a grant or contract under
subsection (a) or (b) shall periodically submit to the Secretary
a report evaluating the activities supported by the grant or contract.
‘‘(f) 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.

Deadline.
Consultation.
Review.

Reports.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with relevant
stakeholders, shall—
(1) conduct a review on improving health care professional
mental health and the outcomes of programs authorized under
this Act; and
(2) submit a report to the Congress on the results of such
review.
(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.

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SEC. 6. GAO REPORT.

Analysis.

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Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit
to the Congress a report 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—
(1) include an analysis of available evidence and data
related to such conditions and programs; and

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PUBLIC LAW 117–105—MAR. 18, 2022

136 STAT. 1121

(2) assess whether there are duplicative goals and objectives among such grant programs.

Assessment.

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Approved March 18, 2022.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1667:
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 117–213 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 167 (2021): Dec. 8, considered and passed House.
Vol. 168 (2022): Feb. 17, considered and passed Senate.

Æ

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