Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act

Bill Number: H.R. 929
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Health
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-02-04: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Last Updated: 2026-05-12T08:05:49Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This legislation, H.R. 929, reauthorizes and extends the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (originally passed in 2022). The original act aimed to support the mental health of health care workers by funding education, awareness programs, and initiatives to reduce burnout and promote access to mental health and substance use disorder services. This reauthorization updates and prolongs these efforts through 2030, with minor expansions to address ongoing challenges like administrative burdens on workers.

Key Provisions

Education and Awareness Initiative (Section 2): Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to launch a national campaign to encourage health care professionals to seek mental health and substance use disorder treatment without fear of professional repercussions. This includes partnerships with medical societies and accreditation bodies.
Adds annual reporting requirements starting after the initial report.
Extends funding and implementation from 2022–2024 to 2026–2030.
Mental Health Promotion Programs (Section 3): Amends the Public Health Service Act to support grants for training programs that build a workforce skilled in addressing mental health needs of health care professionals.
Redesignates the relevant section (originally section 764) as section 764A for clarity.
Expands grant eligibility to include entities focused on reducing administrative burdens (e.g., paperwork overload) on health care workers, in addition to those in high-need areas.
Specifies minimum durations for certain program elements (e.g., training periods).
Extends grant funding availability from 2022–2024 to 2026–2030.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Timeline Extension: Shifts all funding and reporting deadlines forward by about four years, ensuring continuity without a funding gap.
Eligibility Expansion: Broadens grant recipients under the mental health programs to prioritize efforts reducing administrative workload, which was not explicitly included in the original act. This targets a common source of stress for health care workers.
Reporting Enhancements: Introduces ongoing annual reports for the awareness initiative, replacing the one-time requirement, to track progress more consistently.
Structural Update: Redesignates a section of the Public Health Service Act to avoid numbering conflicts, with no substantive change to core operations.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: HHS will continue administering grants and campaigns, with extended budgets potentially requiring modest increases in oversight and reporting. This could streamline federal support for health workforce resilience without new agencies.
On Citizens: Primarily benefits health care professionals (e.g., doctors, nurses) by improving access to mental health resources, potentially reducing suicide rates and burnout—issues highlighted by the original act's namesake, Dr. Lorna Breen, who died by suicide in 2020 amid COVID-19 pressures. Indirectly, it may enhance patient care quality through a healthier workforce.
On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. health policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Health Care Professionals: Direct beneficiaries through expanded mental health support and reduced administrative stress.
Health Care Organizations and Entities: Eligible for grants to develop training and awareness programs, including hospitals, medical schools, and professional associations.
Federal Government (HHS): Responsible for implementation, funding allocation (via appropriations), and reporting.
Medical Accrediting Bodies and Societies: Partners in the awareness campaign to promote stigma-free mental health care.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Builds on existing public health laws without introducing new mandates or liabilities; emphasizes voluntary programs and grants, respecting professional licensing autonomy. No challenges to privacy laws (e.g., HIPAA) are evident, as it promotes confidential services.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause to regulate health care and public welfare; no First Amendment or due process issues, as it encourages rather than compels participation.
Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from both parties) signals broad support for health worker protections post-pandemic. It avoids controversy by focusing on reauthorization rather than overhauls, potentially easing passage but tying funding to future appropriations bills.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

Cosponsors (84)

Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Vindman, Eugene [D-VA-7], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22] and 34 more

Recent Actions

2025-02-04: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
2025-02-04: Introduced in House
2025-02-04: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act — issued 2025-02-04 — PDF (3 pages)