IIB 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1667 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
DECEMBER 9, 2021 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions 
AN ACT 
To address behavioral health and well-being among health 
care professionals. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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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. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact-
ment 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-in-
formed best practices for preventing suicide and improving 
mental health and resiliency among health care profes-
sionals, and for training health care professionals in ap-
propriate strategies to promote their mental health. Such 
best practices shall include recommendations related to 
preventing suicide and improving mental health and resil-
iency among health care professionals. 
SEC. 3. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS INITIATIVE ENCOUR-
AGING USE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUB-
STANCE 
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— 
(1) to encourage health care professionals to 
seek support and care for their mental health or 
substance use concerns, to help such professionals 
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identify risk factors associated with suicide and 
mental health conditions, and to help such profes-
sionals learn how best to respond to such risks, with 
the goal of preventing suicide, mental health condi-
tions, 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 Pen-
sions 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 sub-
section (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. PROGRAMS 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 add-
ing at the end the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 764. PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH 
AMONG THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WORK-
FORCE. 
‘‘(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 associa-
tions, to establish or enhance evidence-based or evi-
dence-informed programs dedicated to improving 
mental health and resiliency for health care profes-
sionals. 
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity receiv-
ing 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; 
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‘‘(B) establishing new, or enhancing exist-
ing, evidence-based or evidence-informed pro-
grams for preventing suicide and improving 
mental health and resiliency among health care 
professionals; 
‘‘(C) establishing new, or enhancing exist-
ing, peer-support programs among health care 
professionals; or 
‘‘(D) providing mental health care, follow- 
up services and care, or referral for such serv-
ices and care, as appropriate. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants and con-
tracts 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 estab-
lish a program to award grants to health professions 
schools, academic health centers, State or local govern-
ments, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, or other ap-
propriate public or private nonprofit entities (or consortia 
of entities, including entities promoting multidisciplinary 
approaches) to support the training of health care stu-
dents, residents, or health care professionals in evidence- 
based or evidence-informed strategies to address mental 
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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 sub-
mit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such 
manner, and accompanied by such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(e) REPORTING.—An entity awarded a grant or con-
tract under subsection (a) or (b) shall periodically submit 
to the Secretary a report evaluating the activities sup-
ported 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 au-
thorized to be appropriated $35,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2024.’’. 
SEC. 5. REVIEW WITH RESPECT TO HEALTH CARE PROFES-
SIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AND RESILIENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with relevant stakeholders, shall— 
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(1) conduct a review on improving health care 
professional mental health and the outcomes of pro-
grams authorized under this Act; and 
(2) submit a report to the Congress on the re-
sults 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 con-
cerns, and actions taken by State licensing boards, 
schools for health professionals, health care profes-
sional 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 pro-
fessionals and lessons learned for future public 
health emergencies; 
(4) factors that promote mental health and re-
siliency among health care professionals, including 
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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 men-
tal health. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The review under sub-
section (a), as appropriate, shall identify best practices re-
lated 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. 
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 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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(2) assess whether there are duplicative goals 
and objectives among such grant programs. 
Passed the House of Representatives December 8, 
2021. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
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