What does Preamble of Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026 do?

This bill, formally titled 'To strengthen recruitment, training, and retention of the health center workforce to improve access to care and health outcomes in rural and underserved communities, and for other purposes,' aims to improve healthcare access. The bill focuses on strengthening the recruitment, training, and retention of health center personnel. The stated goal is to improve access to care and health outcomes in rural and underserved communities.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026

What does IMPROVING RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF FEDERAL QUALIFIED HEALTH of Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026 do?

This section amends the Public Health Service Act to prioritize Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics when approving applications for assignment of members of the Corps. The Secretary is required to give priority to applications related to health professional shortage areas located at FQHCs and Rural Health Clinics. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is directed to award grants to FQHCs to address health professional workforce shortages through loan repayments. FQHCs seeking grants must submit applications detailing their capacity to address regional workforce shortages, a loan repayment plan, and their use of an interdisciplinary approach to care.

What does COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER WORKFORCE PIPELINE PROGRAM. of Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes the Community Health Center Workforce Pipeline Program. The Secretary is authorized to award grants to health centers to recruit, train, and retain staff, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are deemed eligible to register as apprenticeship programs. Grants may be awarded to institutions of higher education, including community colleges and minority-serving institutions, to establish partnerships with health centers for training students in health professions. Funds for these partnerships can cover training costs, including clinician salaries, and may include formal training and mentorships. The training supported can include clinical, information technology, operations, finance, or other relevant areas. The Secretary may also award grants to health centers to establish, operate, or expand training programs for behavioral health specialists. These behavioral health training programs can include stipends, apprenticeship programs, and other recruitment/retention activities.

What does EXPANDING HOSPITAL AND FQHC PARTNERSHIPS FOR GRADUATE MEDICAL of Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026 do?

This section amends the Public Health Service Act to include written contracts for graduate medical residency training programs. It also amends the Social Security Act to increase the resident limit for hospitals with approved medical residency training programs at Federally qualified health centers. The increase in resident limit applies to cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2025.

What does EXPANDING FQHC SERVICES. of Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026 do?

This section amends the Social Security Act to expand behavioral health professional and case manager services under Medicare. Specifically, it modifies Section 1861(aa) to include services furnished by behavioral health consultants, peer support specialists, and other behavioral health professionals, as well as case management services, starting October 1, 2025. It also modifies Section 1905(l)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act related to Medicaid. The Secretary is required to conduct a study and issue guidance on payment adjustments for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) under State Medicaid plans, beginning no later than October 1, 2025, and annually thereafter.

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Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026

Last updated: 4/30/2026 · Introduced: 4/30/2026

Author: Raul Ruiz (D-CA)

TL;DR (AI)

The bill prioritizes Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics in the assignment of health professionals through the Public Health Service Corps and provides grants to FQHCs for loan repayment programs to address workforce shortages.
It establishes a Community Health Center Workforce Pipeline Program to award grants for recruiting, training, and retaining health center staff, including partnerships with institutions of higher education and programs for behavioral health specialists.
The bill expands Medicare and Medicaid coverage to include behavioral health professional and case management services provided by FQHCs and increases the resident limit for hospitals with approved residency programs at FQHCs.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 4 more.

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