Named after Dr. Lorna Breen, a physician who committed suicide in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act is a bipartisan bill to establish grants that support training in strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, behavioral health conditions, and substance use disorders among healthcare professionals.  

Hospitalists are front-line clinicians in America’s acute care hospitals and focus on the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Rates of burnout were high and rising prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges like staffing shortages, exceedingly high patient volumes, and stigma surrounding mental health care and treatment further contribute to rising rates of burnout in the healthcare profession, with rates as high as 45% of Physicians reporting burnout and 64% among Physicians Assistants, according to the SHM Workforce Survey data. The mental health and wellbeing of our healthcare workforce is in crisis and requires continued action.   

The signing of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act into law in 2022 was an important first step – but we need to pass the reauthorization to ensure continued access to these vital mental health resources.   

Tell your senator to support the passage of S.B. 266/H.R.929, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act!