--- kind: "diff" citation: "S. 610" bill: "117-s-610" heading: "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act" from: "rs" from_label: "Reported in Senate" to: "es" to_label: "Engrossed in Senate" sections_amended: 4 sections_added: 1 sections_removed: 0 url: "https://uscodex.org/bills/117/s/610/changes/es" --- # S. 610 — what changed S. 610, Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act — 4 sections amended and 1 added between Reported in Senate and Engrossed in Senate. Edits are marked `struck` and `inserted`. ## Sec. 2 Dissemination of best practices - Subpart 1 of part E of title VII The Secretary of the Public Health Service and Human Services (referred to in this Act (42 U.S.C. 294n et seq.) is amended by adding at the end as the following:“Secretary”) shall identify and disseminate evidence-based or evidence-informed best practices for preventing suicide and improving mental health and resiliency among health care professionals, and for training health care professionals in appropriate strategies to promote their mental health. Such best practices shall include recommendations related to preventing suicide and improving mental health and resiliency among health care professionals. - “764. Behavioral health and well-being training for health care professionals - “(a) Grant program—The Secretary shall establish a program to award grants to health professions schools, academic health centers, State or local governments, or other appropriate public or private nonprofit entities for funding and participation in health professions and nursing training activities for the training of health care students, residents, or professionals in evidence-informed strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, behavioral health conditions, including mental health conditions and substance use disorders, among health care professionals, and in evidence-informed strategies to improve health care professionals’ well-being and job satisfaction. - “(b) Eligibility—To be eligible for a grant under subsection (a), an entity described in such subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. - “(c) Reporting requirement—Each entity awarded a grant under this section shall periodically submit to the Secretary a report evaluating the activities supported by the grant. - “(d) Best practices—The Secretary may identify and disseminate evidence-informed best practices for reducing and preventing suicide and burnout among health care professionals, and training health care professionals in appropriate strategies and promoting their mental and behavioral health and job satisfaction. Such best practices shall include specific recommendations for reducing and preventing suicide, burnout, and other mental and behavioral health concerns among health care professionals during or in the aftermath of a pandemic, natural disaster, or other crisis. - “(e) Authorization of appropriations—To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.” ## Sec. 3 Education and awareness initiative encouraging use of mental health and substance use disorder services by health care professionals - (a) In general— The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Secretary, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, including medical professional community, associations, shall establish a national evidence-based or evidence-informed education and awareness campaign targeting health care professionals initiative to encourage such health care professionals to seek support and treatment care for their own mental and behavioral health or substance use concerns, to help such professionals identify risk factors in themselves associated with suicide and others mental health conditions, and to help such professionals learn how best to respond to such risks, with the goal of reducing or preventing suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions, and substance use disorders, and to address stigma associated with seeking mental and behavioral health support and treatment.substance use disorder services. - (b) Reporting— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide an update on the campaign’s progress, including a plan for evaluation that includes quantitative and qualitative metrics, and a media and dissemination plan, to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.Representatives an update on the activities and outcomes of the initiative under subsection (a), including a description of quantitative and qualitative metrics used to evaluate such activities and outcomes. - (c) Authorization of appropriations— There To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.2024. ## Sec. 4 Grants to promote mental health among the health professional workforce - Subpart 1 I of part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. U.S.C.. 294n et seq.), as amended by section 2, seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following: - “764A. “764. Grants for health care providers to promote mental and behavioral health among their the health professional workforce - “(a) In general—The Secretary shall award grants to health care providers, including medical professional associations, to establish or expand evidence-informed programs dedicated related to promoting improving mental and behavioral health and resiliency among their employees (including contractors) or members who are working on the front lines of the SARS–CoV–2 pandemic.health care professionals. - “(b) Use of grant funds—A health care provider awarded a grant under subsection (a) shall use amounts under the grant to implement a new program or protocol or expand an existing program or protocol Grants to promote mental and behavioral health among employees (including contractors) or members who have previously treated or otherwise served, or are currently treating or otherwise serving, patients diagnosed with COVID–19, which may include any of the following:health care professionals - “(1) Educating employees, In general—The Secretary shall award grants to health care entities, including contractors, or membership about risk factors for and signs of self-harm and suicide and mental entities that provide health care services, such as hospitals, community health centers, and behavioral rural health conditions in accordance with clinics, or to medical professional associations, to establish or enhance evidence-based practices or evidence-informed programs dedicated to improving mental health and standards.resiliency for health care professionals. - “(2) Establishing Use of funds—An eligible entity receiving a grant under this subsection shall use amounts under the grant to implement a new program or enhancing enhance an existing evidence-based programs or protocols for preventing program to promote mental and behavioral health conditions, suicide, or self-harm.among health care professionals, which may include— - “(3) Establishing new or enhancing existing peer-support programs “(A) improving awareness among employees (including contractors) health care professionals about risk factors for, and signs of, suicide and mental health or members.substance use disorders, in accordance with evidence-based or evidence-informed practices; - “(4) Mental and behavioral health treatment, follow up services and care, “(B) establishing new, or referral for such services identified as appropriate as a result of the screenings enhancing existing, evidence-based or prevention evidence-informed programs for preventing suicide and protocol described in paragraphs (1) improving mental health and (2).resiliency among health care professionals; - “(c) Grant Terms—A grant awarded under subsection (a)—“(C) establishing new, or enhancing existing, peer-support programs among health care professionals; or - “(1) shall be “(D) providing mental health care, follow-up services and care, or referral for a period of 3 years; andsuch services and care, as appropriate. - “(2) may be renewed subject to the requirements of “(3) Priority—In awarding grants under this section.subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities in health professional shortage areas or rural areas. - “(d) Application submission—A health care provider seeking “(c) Training grants—The Secretary may establish a grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application program to award grants to health professions schools, academic health centers, State or local governments, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, or other appropriate public or private nonprofit entities (or consortia of entities, including entities promoting multidisciplinary approaches) to support the Secretary at such time, training of health care students, residents, or health care professionals in such manner, evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies to address mental and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.substance use disorders and improve mental health and resiliency among health care professionals. - “(e) Priority—Priority “(d) Grant terms—A grant awarded under subsection (b) or (c) shall be given to applications from health care providers located in current or former COVID–19 hotspots, as determined by the Secretary or health care providers which have diagnosed or treated for a higher share period of COVID–19 patients, as determined by the Secretary.3 years. - “(f) Reporting—A health care provider awarded “(e) Application submission—An entity seeking a grant under subsection (a) (b) or (c) shall periodically submit an application to the Secretary a report evaluating the activities supported at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the grant.Secretary may require. - “(g) Authorization of appropriations—To carry out this section, there is authorized “(f) Reporting—An entity awarded a grant under subsection (b) or (c) shall periodically submit to be appropriated $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2024.”Secretary a report evaluating the activities supported by the grant. - “(g) Authorization of appropriations—To carry out this section and section 5 of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, there are authorized to be appropriated $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024.” ## Sec. 5 Review with respect to health care professional mental health and resiliency - (a) In general— The Secretary, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall conduct a review and, not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, submit a report to Congress related to improving health care professional mental health and resiliency and the outcomes of programs authorized under this Act. - (b) Considerations— The review under subsection (a) shall take into account— - (1) the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions among health professionals, and factors that contribute to those mental health conditions; - (2) barriers to seeking and accessing mental health care for health care professionals, which may include consideration of stigma and licensing concerns, and actions taken by State licensing boards, schools for health professionals, health care professional training associations, hospital associations, or other organizations, as appropriate, to address such barriers; - (3) the impact of the COVID–19 public health emergency on the mental health of health care professionals and lessons learned for future public health emergencies; - (4) factors that promote mental health and resiliency among health care professionals, including programs or strategies to strengthen mental health and resiliency among health care professionals; and - (5) the efficacy of health professional training programs that promote resiliency and improve mental health. - (c) Recommendations— The review under subsection (a), as appropriate, shall identify best practices related to, and make recommendations to address— - (1) improving mental health and resiliency among health care professionals; - (2) removing barriers to mental health care for health care professionals; and - (3) strategies to promote resiliency among health care professionals in health care settings. - Subpart 1 of part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294n et seq.), as amended by section 4, is further amended by adding at the end the following: - “764B. Comprehensive study on health care professional mental and behavioral health and burnout - “(a) In general—The Secretary, in consultation with stakeholders, shall conduct a review and submit recommendations to Congress on policies to improve health care professional mental health and prevent burnout. - “(b) Considerations—The study under subsection (a) shall focus on identifying— - “(1) the factors that contribute to mental and behavioral health conditions and burnout among health care professionals; - “(2) the barriers to seeking and accessing mental and behavioral health treatment for health care professionals, including stigma and concerns about licensing and credentialing; - “(3) the implications of poor mental and behavioral health and burnout among health care professionals for the health care system, the health care workforce, and patient outcomes; - “(4) the impact of the SARS–CoV–2 pandemic on the mental and behavioral health of health care professionals and related preparedness strategies for future health emergencies; - “(5) the factors that promote mental and behavioral health and resiliency among health care professionals, including programs or protocols that strengthen mental and behavioral health or prevent burnout among health care professionals; and - “(6) the efficacy of health professional training programs that promote resiliency and improve mental health. - “(c) Recommendations—The study required under subsection (a) shall include recommendations related to— - “(1) improving mental and behavioral health and preventing burnout among health care professionals; - “(2) removing barriers to mental and behavioral health care for health care professionals; and - “(3) strategies to promote resiliency among health care professionals and other employees and contractors in health care settings. - “(d) Completion—The Secretary shall ensure that the study under subsection (a) is completed and submitted to Congress and made publicly available not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section. - “(e) Authorization of appropriations—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2024.” ## Sec. 6 GAO report — added - Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall report to Congress on the extent to which Federal substance use disorder and mental health grant programs address the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions and substance use disorders among health professionals. Such report shall include an analysis of available evidence and data related to such conditions and programs, and shall assess whether there are duplicative goals and objectives among such grant programs.