Major legislative victory extends critical programs through 2030

In a significant win for the healthcare workforce, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act has been signed into law, officially extending life-saving mental health and wellbeing programs for healthcare workers through September 2030.

A Personal Legacy, A National Impact

Named after Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency room physician in New York City who tragically died by suicide during the height of the pandemic, the law ensures that those who dedicate their lives to caring for others receive the support they need.

"The people we rely on in our most vulnerable moments have been facing a hidden crisis of their own," said Corey Feist, Co-Founder and CEO of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation. "Long shifts, administrative red tape, and the emotional weight of caregiving have led to a national epidemic of burnout and poor mental health."

Proven Results

The programs authorized by this legislation are already demonstrating remarkable impact:

• 250,000+ healthcare workers have been supported through grant programs
• 37% reduction in burnout reported by some grantees
• 50% decrease in mental health conditions among participants
• 10-15 minute reduction in documentation time per patient visit at one hospital, directly improving job satisfaction by 47%

These programs provide grants to hospitals, health systems, health professions schools and community organizations to improve the systems in which health workers are educated, trained and practice. They also support the Impact Wellbeing™ initiative, which has provided 35,000+ healthcare leaders with training materials to address the operational factors and burdens that drive workforce burnout.

"Most physicians, when they look back over their training in medical school, residency, and early years in practice, recognize times when they would have benefited from mental health support but didn't seek it for many reasons,” said Dr. Heidi Chumley, Chief Operating Officer, Medical and Veterinary at Covista. “For me, it was during residency. Fortunately, I had a director who recognized this and got me the help I needed. The progress being made by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation is moving us closer to mental health care being a standard part of being a physician—something that would benefit everyone."

Why This Matters to Us 

As America's largest healthcare educator serving 97,000 students and supported by 385,000 alumni, Covista has both the scale and responsibility to address the healthcare workforce crisis comprehensively—and that includes supporting the mental health and wellbeing of healthcare professionals.

"America's healthcare workforce shortage is directly impacting patient care," said Megan Noel, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Covista. "Healthcare executives are reducing patient capacity due to workforce shortages, while clinicians report that inadequate staffing is directly compromising care quality. Addressing burnout and mental health isn't just about supporting individual workers—it's essential to building a sustainable healthcare system."

According to Covista's Care Capacity Monitor:

• 76% of clinicians and 73% of healthcare executives report that staffing shortages affect their ability to deliver high-quality care
• 15% of physician specialists and primary care physicians and 13% of registered nurses say they are somewhat or very likely to leave the profession in the next 12 months
• High workplace satisfaction won't stop some workers from leaving—even satisfied healthcare workers are at risk of departure due to burnout

Covista Open Doors: A Commitment to the Entire Healthcare Career Continuum

The reauthorization of the Lorna Breen Act comes as Covista and the Covista Foundation launch Covista Open Doors, a multi-year impact commitment to build and sustain the healthcare workforce.

Covista Open Doors focuses on three key priorities: inspiring individuals to pursue healthcare careers, helping students achieve their healthcare ambitions, and supporting the wellbeing of healthcare workers through programs that address mental health, burnout and promote career longevity.

Covista's investments in the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation and The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare represent this third pillar—ensuring that practicing healthcare professionals have the support they need to sustain meaningful careers without sacrificing their wellbeing.

"Addressing today's shortage is necessary, but insufficient," Noel emphasized. "Ensuring a sustainable pipeline of future healthcare workers requires investment across the entire career continuum."

What Comes Next

The recent reauthorization is a significant milestone, marking the beginning of an important journey. This law ensures the legal framework for these essential programs to operate until 2030. However, it is crucial for Congress to allocate the necessary funding to effectively implement these programs in hospitals and clinics, particularly in underserved communities facing healthcare worker shortages, rural areas with limited access to care, and organizations dealing with high levels of burnout due to administrative demands. Appropriation of these funds will be vital in optimizing healthcare delivery where it is most needed.

The connection between workforce mental health and sustainable healthcare delivery is clear. When healthcare workers are supported, they can provide better care, sustain longer careers and inspire the next generation to join the profession.

Through Covista Open Doors and partnerships with organizations like the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation, Covista is working to ensure that the healthcare professionals of today—and tomorrow—have what they need to thrive.