On March 20, the full House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously voted (48-0) to advance the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act of 2024. Endorsed by the Healthcare Workforce Coalition, the bipartisan bill is intended to help address mental health challenges and burnout among the country’s healthcare workforce.
Recognizing the significant mental health challenges the workforce has faced in recent years, Congress first passed the landmark legislation in 2022. The bill advanced at E&C this week would reauthorize several important programs for five years.
Specifically, the bill reauthorizes grant programs for healthcare organizations, professional associations, and health profession schools to support programs that help prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders. It would also reauthorize a national evidence-based education and awareness campaign to help healthcare leaders reduce burnout and support the workforce that serve their institutions.
According to the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, which has led the push for the reauthorization of the bill, “Since its passage in 2022, the Lorna Breen Act has funded $103 million across 44 organizations to implement evidence-informed strategies that reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders.”
The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act has been a priority of the Healthcare Workforce Coalition and was one of the bills we proudly advocated for during our fly-in this week.
The bill now moves to a full House vote, yet the timing is unclear. A Senate companion has been introduced by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN).