Health Care Workforce Innovation Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 935
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-04: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T08:09:07Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Health Care Workforce Innovation Act of 2025 aims to expand the education and training of allied health professionals—such as medical assistants, dental hygienists, and community health workers—through innovative, community-led programs. It focuses on addressing shortages in underserved communities and rural areas to improve access to primary care services.
Key Provisions
- Program Establishment: Creates the "Health Care Workforce Innovation Program" under the Public Health Service Act, authorizing grants or contracts to support new or expanded training models for allied health professionals.
- Eligibility Criteria: Eligible applicants include Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs, community-based clinics serving low-income populations), state-level associations or consortia of FQHCs, certified rural health clinics, and accredited nonprofit vocational programs that train workers for primary care settings.
- Application Requirements: Applicants must submit detailed plans covering accredited training partnerships, the specific innovation model (including targeted professions), geographic areas with demonstrated shortages (using data if available), trainee benefits, recruitment and retention experience, how funds will supplement (not replace) existing resources, scalability, infrastructure needs, and other relevant details.
- Use of Funds: Funds can support partnerships with high schools, vocational schools, colleges, and clinical sites; training programs emphasizing cultural competence and team-based care; apprenticeships and internships; career development; and limited equipment or space upgrades. Prohibits use for construction or replacing existing program funding. Supported models must last at least 3 years.
- Award Priorities: Preference for models that increase workforce diversity (e.g., from underserved backgrounds), enhance access to medical, behavioral, oral, or public health services in shortage areas, and are cost-effective and replicable elsewhere.
- Reporting and Oversight: Grantees must submit periodic reports on outcomes, as specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
- Definitions:
- Allied health professionals: Includes clinical roles (e.g., physical therapists, pharmacy technicians) and non-clinical roles (e.g., health IT specialists, peer support workers).
- Rural areas: As defined by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
- Underserved communities: Health professional shortage areas, medically underserved areas or populations (e.g., low-income or rural groups with limited care access).
- Funding: Authorizes necessary appropriations for fiscal years 2026–2028 (funds remain available until spent); individual grants or contracts capped at $2.5 million.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 755(b) of the Public Health Service Act (which already supports health workforce development) by adding a new subsection (5). It introduces a dedicated program for community-driven allied health innovations, expanding beyond existing grants to emphasize partnerships, apprenticeships, and targeted shortages in underserved and rural settings. No funds can supplant prior workforce support, ensuring additionality.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HHS and HRSA will administer grants, potentially increasing administrative workload for application reviews and oversight, while leveraging existing infrastructure for shortage designations.
- Citizens: Improves health care access in underserved and rural areas by growing the supply of trained professionals, particularly for primary, behavioral, oral, and public health needs. May benefit disadvantaged groups through diversity-focused training, leading to more culturally competent care.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the program is domestic-focused.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Health Care Providers and Facilities: FQHCs, rural health clinics, and vocational programs as primary grantees and partners.
- Allied Health Professionals and Trainees: Current and future workers (e.g., medical assistants, community health workers) gaining training, apprenticeships, and career opportunities.
- Underserved and Rural Communities: Residents facing health worker shortages, who may see improved local services and access.
- Educational Institutions: High schools, vocational-technical schools, and colleges partnering for training pipelines.
- Government Entities: HHS and HRSA in program implementation; bipartisan congressional sponsors (e.g., Reps. Garbarino, Schrier) indicating broad support.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing federal authority under the Public Health Service Act to fund workforce development without creating new entitlements; includes safeguards against fund misuse (e.g., no supplanting). Aligns with health equity goals but requires compliance with accreditation and reporting standards.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; falls under Congress's spending power for public health (Article I, Section 8) and does not infringe on states' rights, as it supports voluntary state and local partnerships.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (Republican and Democratic cosponsors) suggests potential for cross-aisle appeal in addressing rural and urban health disparities. Could influence future workforce policies by piloting scalable models, though funding depends on annual appropriations, introducing budgetary uncertainty.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]
Cosponsors (18)
Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-04: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-02-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Health Care Workforce Innovation Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-04 — PDF (8 pages)