Senate HELP Committee Advances Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act

On May 23, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) voted to advance S.3679, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Reauthorization Act. This ASA-endorsed legislation would renew the law passed by Congress in 2022 to address the mental health and well-being of health care professionals. 

Signed into law on March 18, 2022, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act allocated funds for grants to address physician burnout, suicide prevention, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders. To date, the law has provided $100 million in funding to support physicians and other health care professionals across the country. The historic law will expire on September 30, 2024, absent congressional action.

Companion legislation, H.R. 7153, advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in March.  Both bills must next be approved by their full respective chambers.

Read more about the legislation here.

Read the coalition letter in support of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act.

Read ASA’s statement from when the Act was signed into law last Congress.