In a Feb. 13 letter to its lead sponsors, the AAMC endorsed the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 3679/H.R. 7153). The association also joined 58 other organizations in a Feb. 15 letter in support of the bill. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation was introduced by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), Susan Wild (D-Pa.), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) on Jan. 30.
The bill would reauthorize grants programs, authorized under the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (P.L. 117-105), for an additional five years. Specifically, the bill would:
- Continue 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.
- Allow 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.
- Give priority to grantees who focus on reducing administrative burdens on health professionals.
On Feb. 14, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on the reauthorization bill and other legislation related to patients and caregivers [refer to Layla’s related story]. During the hearing, Corey Feist, JD, MBA, co-founder and CEO of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, underscored the critical need for the reauthorization of the legislation, highlighting its essential role in combating suicide, burnout, substance use disorders, and other mental health issues among health care professionals.