119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 8629
The Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026 aims to strengthen healthcare access in rural and underserved communities by improving recruitment, training, and retention of health center workers. The bill creates several programs including loan repayment grants for health professionals at federally qualified health centers, workforce development grants to help health centers recruit and train staff, and new partnerships between colleges and health centers to train students in health professions. It also expands graduate medical education opportunities by allowing federally qualified health centers to partner with hospitals on residency training programs and increases Medicare support for such programs. Additionally, the bill expands the services that federally qualified health centers can provide by adding behavioral health specialists and case managers, effective October 1, 2025. The legislation does not specify total funding amounts but requires the Department of Labor to revise apprenticeship regulations within 180 days and the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance on Medicaid payments by October 1, 2025.