H.R. 8629

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8629 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8629

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.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 30, 2026

Mr. Ruiz (for himself and Mr. Bilirakis) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Developing the Community Health 
Workforce Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVING RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF FEDERAL QUALIFIED HEALTH 
CENTER STAFF.

(a) Priority to FQHCs and Rural Health Clinics.--Section 333(a) of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254f(a)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``(4) In approving applications for assignment of members of the 
Corps, the Secretary shall, notwithstanding paragraph (3), give 
priority to applications with respect to health professional shortage 
areas that are Federally qualified health centers and rural health 
clinics, as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act.''.
(b) Loan Repayment Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall award grants to Federally qualified health centers (as 
defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395x(aa))) for the purpose of addressing health 
professional workforce shortages by making loan repayments on 
behalf of health care professionals serving at such centers.
(2) Applications.--To seek a grant under paragraph (1), a 
Federally qualified health center shall submit an application 
to the Secretary of Health and Human Services at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require. At a minimum, such an application shall include--
(A) a description of the center's capacity to 
address specific regional workforce shortages, 
supported by data;
(B) a plan for making loan repayments as described 
in paragraph (1); and
(C) a description of the center's use of an 
interdisciplinary approach to care (such as through the 
use of teams to provide care that include physicians, 
nurses, social workers, community health workers, 
pharmacists, and other health care professionals).

SEC. 3. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER WORKFORCE PIPELINE PROGRAM.

(a) Grants To Recruit, Train, and Retain a Community-Based Health 
Center Workforce.--
(1) In general.--Section 330 of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 254b) is amended--
(A) by redesignating subsection (r) as subsection 
(u); and
(B) by inserting after subsection (q) the following 
new subsection:
``(r) Recruiting, Training, and Retaining a Community-Based 
Workforce.--The Secretary may award grants to health centers for the 
purpose of assisting such centers in--
``(1) recruiting and hiring staff with the skills and 
experience necessary to effectively serve health center patient 
populations in rural and underserved areas; and
``(2) supporting career advancement and workforce 
development opportunities for such staff.''.
(b) FQHCs Deemed Eligible To Register as Apprenticeship Program.--
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Labor shall revise the regulations under part 29 of 
title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act, so that Federally qualified health centers (as 
defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x(aa))) are eligible to register as apprenticeship programs under 
such part.
(c) Health Centers Career Opportunities.--Section 330 of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b) is further amended by inserting 
after subsection (r), as inserted by subsection (a) of this section, 
the following:
``(s) Health Centers Career Opportunities.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may award grants to 
institutions of higher education, including community colleges 
and minority-serving institutions, to establish partnerships 
with one or more health centers funded under this section for 
training students in health professions.
``(2) Use of funds.--
``(A) Costs.--An institution of higher education 
receiving a grant under this subsection may use the 
grant to pay the costs of training, including the 
salary of the clinicians or other educators who provide 
the training.
``(B) Training supported.--The training supported 
pursuant to a grant under this subsection may include 
formal training and mentorships.
``(C) Types of training.--The types of training 
supported pursuant to a grant under this subsection may 
include clinical, information technology, operations, 
finance, or other training for students of health 
professions, as determined by the institution of higher 
education receiving the grant in partnership with the 
health center involved.
``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) The term `institution of higher education' 
means an institution of higher education described in 
subsection (a) or (b) of section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965.
``(B) The term `minority-serving institution' means 
an institution of higher education described in section 
371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.''.
(d) Behavioral Health Specialists.--Section 330 of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b) is further amended by inserting 
after subsection (s), as inserted by subsection (c) of this section, 
the following:
``(t) Behavioral Health Specialists.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may award grants to health 
centers to establish, operate, or expand training programs for 
behavioral health specialists.
``(2) Use of funds.--The training programs for behavioral 
health specialists supported pursuant to a grant under this 
subsection may include--
``(A) stipends for personnel to operate the 
training programs;
``(B) apprenticeship programs; and
``(C) other recruitment and retention activities 
for behavioral health specialists.''.

SEC. 4. EXPANDING HOSPITAL AND FQHC PARTNERSHIPS FOR GRADUATE MEDICAL 
EDUCATION.

(a) Payments to Teaching Health Centers.--
(1) In general.--Section 340H of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 256h) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``, or that 
have in effect a covered agreement with a sponsoring 
institution so listed,'' after ``relevant accrediting 
body''; and
(B) in subsection (j), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph:
``(5) Covered agreement.--The term `covered agreement' 
means a written contract, memorandum of understanding, or other 
written agreement entered into for not less than 2 years for 
the purpose of conducting an approved graduate medical 
residency training program.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
shall apply with respect to expenses incurred on or after 
October 1, 2025.
(b) Medicare GME Cap.--Section 1886(h) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)) is amended--
(1) in subsection (4)(F), by striking ``and (10)'' and 
inserting ``(10), and (11)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(11) Training programs at federally qualified health 
centers.--
``(A) In general.--For cost reporting periods 
beginning on or after October 1, 2025, in the case of a 
hospital that has an approved medical residency 
training program where a significant portion of such 
program occurs at a Federally qualified health center 
(as determined by the Secretary), the Secretary shall 
increase the otherwise applicable resident limit for 
such hospital by 3 full-time equivalent residency 
positions.
``(B) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Otherwise applicable resident 
limit.--The term `otherwise applicable resident 
limit' means, with respect to a hospital, the 
limit otherwise applicable under subparagraphs 
(F)(i) and (H) of paragraph (4) on the resident 
level for the hospital determined without 
regard to this paragraph but taking into 
account paragraphs (7)(A), (7)(B), (8)(A), 
(8)(B), (9)(A), and (10)(A).
``(ii) Resident level.--The term `resident 
level' has the meaning given such term in 
paragraph (7)(C)(i).''.

SEC. 5. EXPANDING FQHC SERVICES.

(a) Behavioral Health Professional and Case Manager Services.--
(1) Medicare.--Section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
``such services furnished on or after October 
1, 2025, by a behavioral health consultant, 
peer support specialist, or other behavioral 
health professional (as such terms are defined 
by the Secretary),'' before ``and such 
services'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
``and'' at the end;
(iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking the 
comma at the end and inserting ``, and''; and
(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (D) 
the following new subparagraph:
``(E) case management services furnished on or after 
October 1, 2025, by a case manager (as defined by the 
Secretary),''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``(D)'' and 
inserting ``(E)''.
(2) Medicaid.--Section 1905(l)(2)(A) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting ``and 
(E)'' before ``of section''.
(b) Guidance on State Medicaid Payments to FQHCs.--Section 1902(bb) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(bb)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph:
``(7) Study and guidance on payment adjustments.--Not later 
than October 1, 2025, and not less frequently than annually 
thereafter, the Secretary shall--
``(A) conduct a study on any differences in the 
methods by which State plans adjust the payment amount 
under paragraph (3) for services furnished during a 
fiscal year; and
``(B) based on the results of the study conducted 
under subparagraph (A), issue guidance to State plans 
on best practices for adjusting the payment amount 
under paragraph (3) for services furnished during a 
fiscal year.''.
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