SHM Supports the Reauthorization of the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act
February 08, 2024
SHM's Policy Efforts
SHM supports legislation that affects hospital medicine and general healthcare, advocating for hospitalists and the patients they serve.
The Honorable Tim Kaine
U.S. Senate
231 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Todd Young
U.S. Senate
185 Dirksen Senate Office
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Susan Wild
House of Representatives
1027 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Jen Kiggans
House of Representatives
1037 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Buddy Carter
House of Representatives
2432 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Debbie Dingell
U.S. Senate
102 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20003
Dear Senators Kaine and Young and Representatives Wild, Killans, Carter, and Dingell,
The Society of Hospital Medicine, representing the nation’s hospitalists, strongly supports the reauthorization of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (S. 3679). This bipartisan legislation begins to address a rapidly expanding issue of burnout among healthcare professionals. It establishes grants that support training in strategies to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, behavioral health conditions, and substance use disorders among healthcare professionals. Furthermore, this legislation provides funding for programs to educate and promote mental and behavioral health in the healthcare workforce.
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. 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.
SHM supports the reauthorization of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act because hospitalists and other healthcare workers deserve and require continued access to mental health support services. We are pleased to support this legislation and stand ready to support its passage.
Sincerely,
Kris Rehm, MD, SFHM
President, Society of Hospital Medicine