I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1667 
To address behavioral health and well-being among health care professionals. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 8, 2021 
Ms. WILD (for herself, Mr. MCKINLEY, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. UPTON, 
Ms. CHU, Mr. GRIFFITH, Ms. STEVENS, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. CASE, 
Mr. VAN DREW, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. TIMMONS, Mr. SUOZZI, Ms. LEE 
of California, and Mr. STANTON) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
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, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Dr. Lorna Breen 
Health Care Provider Protection Act’’. 
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SEC. 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 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 764. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING TRAIN-
ING FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. 
‘‘(a) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a program to award grants to health professions 
schools, academic health centers, State or local govern-
ments, or other appropriate public or private nonprofit en-
tities for funding and participation in health professions 
and nursing training activities for the training of health 
care students, residents, or professionals in evidence-in-
formed strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, 
behavioral health conditions, including mental health con-
ditions and substance use disorders, among health care 
professionals, and in evidence-informed strategies to im-
prove health care professionals’ well-being and job satis-
faction. 
‘‘(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 Sec-
retary may require. 
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‘‘(c) 
REPORTING
REQUIREMENT.—Each 
entity 
awarded a grant under this section shall periodically sub-
mit to the Secretary a report evaluating the activities sup-
ported by the grant. 
‘‘(d) BEST PRACTICES.—The Secretary may identify 
and disseminate evidence-informed best practices for re-
ducing 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 behav-
ioral health concerns among health care professionals dur-
ing 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 appro-
priated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026.’’. 
SEC. 3. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ENCOUR-
AGING USE OF MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL 
HEALTH SERVICES BY HEALTH CARE PRO-
FESSIONALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec-
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retary’’), acting through the Director of the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, and in consultation with 
the medical professional community, shall establish a na-
tional evidence-based education and awareness campaign 
targeting health care professionals to encourage such pro-
fessionals to seek support and treatment for their own 
mental and behavioral health concerns, help such profes-
sionals identify risk factors in themselves and others and 
learn how best to respond to such risks, with the goal of 
reducing or preventing suicide, burnout, and mental and 
behavioral health conditions, and to address stigma associ-
ated with seeking mental and behavioral health support 
and treatment. 
(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 Com-
mittee 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. 
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SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PRO-
MOTE 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 et seq.), as amended by sec-
tion 2, is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 764A. GRANTS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO 
PROMOTE 
MENTAL 
AND 
BEHAVIORAL 
HEALTH AMONG THEIR HEALTH PROFES-
SIONAL WORKFORCE. 
‘‘(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 
grants to health care providers, including medical profes-
sional associations, to establish or expand evidence-in-
formed programs dedicated to promoting mental and be-
havioral health among their employees (including contrac-
tors) 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 
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serving, patients diagnosed with COVID–19, which may 
include any of the following: 
‘‘(1) Educating employees, including contrac-
tors, 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 serv-
ices identified as appropriate as a result of the 
screenings or prevention programs and protocol de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) and (2). 
‘‘(c) GRANT TERMS.—A grant awarded under sub-
section (a)— 
‘‘(1) shall be for a period of 3 years; and 
‘‘(2) may be renewed subject to the require-
ments of this section. 
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‘‘(d) APPLICATION SUBMISSION.—A health care pro-
vider seeking a grant under subsection (a) shall submit 
an application to the Secretary at such time, in such man-
ner, and accompanied by such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(e) PRIORITY.—Priority shall be given to applica-
tions from health care providers located in current or 
former COVID–19 hotspots, as determined by the Sec-
retary or health care providers which have diagnosed or 
treated a higher share of COVID–19 patients, as deter-
mined 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 appro-
priated $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 
through 2024.’’. 
SEC. 5. COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON HEALTH CARE PRO-
FESSIONAL 
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 et seq.), as amended by sec-
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tion 4, is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 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 rec-
ommendations 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 men-
tal and behavioral health treatment for health care 
professionals, including stigma and concerns about 
licensing and credentialing; 
‘‘(3) the implications of poor mental and behav-
ioral health and burnout among health care profes-
sionals 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 
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professionals and related preparedness strategies for 
future health emergencies; 
‘‘(5) the factors that promote mental and be-
havioral 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 men-
tal 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 profes-
sionals; 
‘‘(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. 
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‘‘(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.’’. 
Æ 
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