The HEADs UP Act expands federal healthcare programs to better serve people with developmental disabilities by designating them as a special medically underserved population eligible for support from federally qualified health centers and the National Health Service Corps. The bill authorizes $15 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to help existing health centers establish new service locations that provide comprehensive primary health care—including specialized dental services—to individuals with developmental disabilities. The legislation applies to health centers nationwide and affects both people with developmental disabilities seeking improved healthcare access and existing health centers that receive federal grants to expand their services. The bill requires that new grant funding supplement rather than replace existing services and includes provisions ensuring that individuals with developmental disabilities are considered when identifying healthcare professional shortage areas. Overall, the act aims to improve access to coordinated, specialized medical care for a vulnerable population that has historically faced barriers to adequate healthcare services.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.