Rosen Applauds HELP Committee Passage of Bipartisan Legislation To Promote Health Care Providers’ Mental Wellbeing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), released the following statement applauding the HELP Committee passage of the bipartisan Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, legislation she co-sponsored earlier this year, to prevent burnout, suicide, and mental and behavioral health issues in health care workers. The bill now heads to the floor for consideration by the full Senate.

“I was proud to vote for this bipartisan legislation I co-sponsored to pass out of committee today to address the increase in suicides among medical professionals working on the frontlines of our health care system,” said Senator Rosen. “We must not forget to take care of our doctors, nurses, and health professionals who have risked their lives to take care of us during this challenging time. I will continue working to improve our public health infrastructure and protect the well-being of Nevada’s medical professionals.”

BACKGROUND: The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, as reported out by the HELP Committee today, will:

  • Establish grants for training health care professionals or trainees in strategies to address mental health and substance use disorders.
  • Require identification and dissemination of best practices for preventing suicide and improving mental health and resiliency among health care professionals.
  • Establish a national education and awareness initiative to encourage health care professionals to seek support and care for mental health and substance use concerns.
  • Establish grants to health care entities (e.g., hospitals, community health centers, and rural health clinics) for health care provider education, the establishment of programs to prevent suicide and improve mental health among health care professionals, peer-support programming, and mental health treatment. Health care providers in health professional shortage areas or rural areas will be prioritized.
  • Require a review related to improving health care professional mental health and resiliency, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on such professionals’ health and the barriers professionals face when seeking and accessing mental health care.

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