Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act

Senate Bill

S. 266

119th Congress

Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 28, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Tim Scott

Senator

Republican

SC

Cosponsors

7

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Health

Summary

This bill reauthorizes through 2029 HRSA grants for mental health programs for healthcare workers and CDC education initiatives. It focuses on supporting healthcare professionals mental health through peer support, treatment access, and reducing administrative burden.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill reauthorizes through 2029 HRSA grants for mental health programs for healthcare workers and CDC education initiatives. It focuses on supporting healthcare professionals mental health through peer support, treatment access, and reducing administrative burden.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization ActThis bill reauthorizes through FY2029 and revises Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants for programs and training to improve mental health among health care professionals and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiative to educate health care professionals about their mental health and related services.Specifically, the bill reauthorizes HRSA grants to health care service providers and medical professional associations to implement programs supporting these professionals’ mental health, such as through peer-support programs or providing mental health care. It also authorizes HRSA to prioritize applicants that focus on reducing administrative burden on health care workers.Also, the bill reauthorizes HRSA grants to government and certain educational entities for training health care students and professionals on how to address mental health and related issues. It also specifies that grants or contracts awarded under the program must be for not less than three years.Additionally, the bill reauthorizes a CDC education and awareness initiative to help health care professionals understand and seek support for their mental health. It also requires the CDC to submit annual reports to specified congressional committees on the initiative’s activities and outcomes.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Reauthorizes healthcare worker mental health programs through FY2029
Continues HRSA grants for peer-support and mental health care
Supports training for health students and professionals
Continues CDC education initiative on provider mental health
Prioritizes reducing administrative burden on healthcare workers

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Healthcare workers could continue accessing mental health support funded by these programs. This is particularly important following the burnout and mental health challenges many faced during the pandemic.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Health

Related Subjects

Drug, alcohol, tobacco use

Health personnel

Health promotion and preventive care

Mental health

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

266, 119th Congress (2025). "Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-266