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Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Jen Kiggans (R-VA-03), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reauthorize the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Todd Young (R-IN), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) have introduced companion legislation.
 
“Healthcare professionals dedicate their lives to serving their patients, often at the expense of their own physical and emotional wellbeing,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation that will provide much-needed resources to address the mental and behavioral health conditions doctors and nurses face and continue reducing the stigma surrounding mental health care.” 

 “America’s healthcare providers work from sun-up to sundown to provide lifesaving care to patients,” said Congresswoman Jen Kiggans. “Their dedication to our communities is unmatched, but unfortunately our healthcare workers often face serious mental health challenges and don’t receive the support they need on the job. As a geriatric nurse practitioner, I know that burnout and mental health challenges are very real threats in our healthcare workforce, especially given the all-demanding nature of the job. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with my colleagues to support workers’ mental health with suicide prevention resources and improve our healthcare systems, ultimately providing better care for patients across the country.” 

“Health care professionals devote their lives to caring for others — too often, at the expense of their own mental health," said Congresswoman McClellan. "Reauthorizing the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act will provide our health care heroes with resources and support they need and deserve. I thank Congresswoman Dingell for her leadership and look forward to working with her and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue these critical programs.”

“As a physician, I know how critical it is to reduce healthcare worker burnout, which can be largely caused by administrative burdens," said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. "Our bipartisan bill provides a multi-pronged approach to provide innovative trainings to address specific operational factors and develop suicide prevention resources. Better conditions for healthcare professionals are crucial in our mission for better healthcare outcomes for patients.”

Specifically, Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act would:

• Reauthorize a grant program for health care organizations and professional associations for employee education on strategies to reduce burnout, peer-support programming, and mental and behavioral health treatment for five years. Communities with a shortage of health care workers, rural communities, and those experiencing burnout due to administrative burdens like lengthy paperwork will be prioritized.
• Reauthorize a grant program for health profession schools or other institutions to train health care workers and students in strategies to prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders for five years.
• Reauthorize a national evidence-based education and awareness campaign. Currently, the campaign provides hospital and health system leaders with evidence-informed solutions to reduce health care worker burnout. Reauthorization will provide resources for the campaign to continue and expand beyond its current scope. 

The legislation is supported by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

“This bill renews our commitment to emergency physicians and health care workers on the frontlines by prioritizing their mental health, while honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Lorna Breen, our emergency physician colleague,” said Alison Haddock, MD, FACEP, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. “We must ensure that physicians and care teams have full access to the mental health treatment, support services, and education they need and deserve. There’s no doubt about it, this law saves lives and protects livelihoods. ACEP fully endorses the reauthorization of this vital law and strongly encourages its prompt passage.”

“Our nation’s healthcare workforce is the backbone of our communities, yet too many eexperience burnout and barriers to seeking support. Reauthorizing and funding the bipartisan Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act is critical to ensuring that those who care for us receive the care they deserve. We applaud Reps. Dingell, Kiggans, McClellan, Miller-Meeks, Fitzpatrick, and Krishnamoorthi for their unwavering leadership and commitment to protecting the wellbeing of our health workerforce. Their dedication brings us closer to a healthcare system that prioritizes both patients and health workers.” – Corey Feist, JD, MBA, Co-Founder and CEO, Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, which leads the ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare coalition.

"As emergency physicians, the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) is deeply grateful to Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA) for their leadership in reauthorizing and funding the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act in the House. AAEM urges Congress to act swiftly in passing and funding these critical initiatives, which are essential to preventing suicide, burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders among emergency physicians. Protecting those who dedicate their lives to saving others is not just necessary - it’s an urgent priority." – Dr. Robert Frolichstein - President AAEM