Community Mental Wellness Worker Training Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5733

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-10-10: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-07-01T08:08:38Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Community Mental Wellness Worker Training Act (H.R. 5733) aims to expand access to basic mental health and substance use support by funding training programs for community-based workers. It authorizes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to help train and certify these workers to screen for and provide initial interventions for common conditions like depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder, particularly in underserved areas.

Key Provisions

• Grant Program: HHS, through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, can award grants to eligible entities (such as certified community behavioral health clinics, community mental health centers, nonprofit hospitals, and other approved organizations) to develop training programs for "community mental wellness workers." These workers receive training, certification, and supervision to:
• Screen for common mental health and substance use issues.
• Deliver evidence-based, culturally and linguistically sensitive counseling and interviewing techniques for basic psychosocial needs, including safety planning to reduce suicide risk.
• Use of Funds: Grants can cover training costs, digital tools for screening and monitoring, delivery of interventions, and ongoing clinical supervision. At least 20% of funds must support technical assistance.
• Technical Assistance: HHS provides training and guidance to grant recipients on hiring practices, integrating workers into healthcare workflows, identifying diverse candidates, and connecting workers with behavioral health providers. This assistance is also shared with states, tribes, treatment providers, and community organizations.
• Priorities for Funding: Grants prioritize entities in high-poverty or high-unemployment areas (based on U.S. Census data), medically underserved communities (areas with limited healthcare access), regions with above-average substance use rates (per National Institute on Drug Abuse data), or communities with high numbers of people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
• Liability Protections: Eligible entities and their staff (including workers, supervisors, and contractors) receive malpractice and negligence protections similar to those for certain health centers under existing federal law (section 224 of the Public Health Service Act). Entities must submit lists of participating personnel, with protections starting in the first full fiscal year after enactment.
• Reporting Requirements: HHS must submit an interim report to Congress one year after enactment and a final report by the end of fiscal year 2030, detailing the number of trained and certified workers.
• Definitions:
• Community mental wellness worker: A trained and certified individual who assists with screening and basic treatments for mild to moderate mental health or substance use disorders.
• Culturally and linguistically competent: Services that respect and respond to differences in gender, race, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, and other factors.
• Medically underserved community: Areas with shortages of healthcare providers or services.
• Funding: Authorizes $25 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill amends Part D of Title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd) by adding a new section (SEC. 554) specifically for training community mental wellness workers. It introduces a dedicated grant program not previously outlined in this part of the law, which focuses on broader mental health and substance use block grants. It also extends existing malpractice protections (from section 224) to these new programs and workers, with a delayed start to allow for implementation.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: HHS will administer grants, provide technical assistance, and report to Congress, potentially increasing workload but also building capacity in mental health services. States, tribes, and local entities may integrate these workers into public health systems, improving coordination under Medicaid and Medicare.
• Citizens: Enhances access to early mental health screening and support in underserved, low-income, or high-risk communities, potentially reducing suicide risks and untreated disorders. It promotes culturally sensitive care, benefiting diverse populations including racial minorities, immigrants, veterans, and those dually eligible for Medicare/Medicaid.
• International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. public health programs.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Eligible Entities: Community behavioral health clinics, mental health centers, nonprofit hospitals, and other approved organizations that receive grants and implement training.
• Community Mental Wellness Workers and Supervisors: Individuals trained and certified through the program, gaining employment opportunities in behavioral health.
• Patients and Communities: People with mild to moderate mental health or substance use needs, especially in high-poverty, underserved, or high-substance-use areas, who gain better access to basic services.
• HHS and Federal Agencies: Leads implementation, funding, and oversight.
• States, Tribes, and Providers: Involved in technical assistance dissemination and potential hiring/integration of workers into treatment programs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Extends federal liability protections to non-traditional healthcare workers, reducing legal risks for participants but requiring compliance with listing and certification rules. It aligns with existing laws like the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (for clinic definitions) and Medicaid regulations, potentially facilitating reimbursement for services.
• Constitutional: Supports equal protection by prioritizing underserved and diverse communities, promoting equity in healthcare access without infringing on individual rights.
• Political: Addresses mental health workforce shortages amid national priorities like the opioid crisis and post-pandemic recovery, potentially fostering bipartisan support (introduced by representatives from different parties). The funding authorization signals long-term commitment but depends on congressional appropriations, which could face budget debates.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-10-10: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-10-10: Introduced in House
• 2025-10-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Community Mental Wellness Worker Training Act — issued 2025-10-10 — PDF (10 pages)