This bill establishes a pilot program to improve healthcare for homeless individuals living on the streets in cities and counties with significant homeless populations. The program, running through the end of fiscal year 2028, pays healthcare providers who deliver "street medicine"—medical services offered directly to unsheltered homeless individuals in their communities—with payment amounts based on Medicaid rates. Eligible providers include doctors, nurse practitioners, behavioral health therapists, and other health professionals affiliated with hospitals, nonprofits, or government agencies who must use electronic health records to document patient interactions and maintain malpractice insurance. The bill also includes provisions to expand loan forgiveness programs for healthcare professionals and community service officers working in underserved areas, creates loan deferment options for those in medical residency programs focused on street medicine, and establishes minimum safety standards for homeless shelters, including requirements for security cameras and menstrual product availability. The Government Accountability Office must report by the end of fiscal year 2027 on the program's effectiveness in moving people into housing and connecting them with substance use treatment.
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