Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act

To address behavioral health and well-being among health care professionals. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act 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 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 2022 through 2026. . 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 (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 2022 through 2026. 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 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 2022 through 2024. . 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 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 2022 through 2024. . 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act 2. Dissemination of best practices The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the Secretary 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. 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: 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 . 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 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. June 8, 2021 Reported with an amendment

Summary: Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act This bill makes several budgetary, technical, and procedural changes, particularly in relation to Medicare and increasing the debt limit. Specifically, the bill continues to exempt Medicare from sequestration until March 31, 2022. (Sequestration is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.) The bill also establishes expedited Senate procedures for considering legislation to increase the debt limit. The procedures limit debate, waive points of order, and prohibit amendments. The procedures may only be used once and expire after January 16, 2022. Additionally, the bill (1) temporarily extends other provisions under Medicare, including a payment increase under the physician fee schedule; and (2) requires any debits recorded for FY2022 on the statutory pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) scorecards to be deducted from the scorecards for 2022 and added to the scorecards for 2023.