Health Access Innovation Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2825
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-16: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-04T12:03:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Health Access Innovation Act of 2025 aims to improve health equity by authorizing grants to faith-based or community-based organizations. These grants focus on expanding access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care, promoting innovative solutions, and tackling ongoing health disparities and chronic diseases in underserved communities.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Establishment: Adds a new section (399V-8) to the Public Health Service Act, allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants for activities such as:
- Covering costs for medical services, health screenings, tests, and preventive care.
- Expanding access to health care and public health services, including increasing the diversity of health workers and providing services tailored to cultural and language needs.
- Addressing barriers to care, such as social determinants of health (factors like housing, transportation, and education that affect health outcomes).
- Supporting community health navigators, community health workers (e.g., "promotores de salud" in Spanish-speaking communities), peer support specialists, and other professionals from faith- or community-based organizations who act as trusted community messengers.
- Building the organizational capacity of grantees and funding other related programs.
- Eligibility Criteria: Grants are limited to faith- or community-based organizations that:
- Have a proven track record in addressing chronic health disparities in disproportionately affected communities.
- Are located in medically underserved areas (regions with limited health resources) or health professional shortage areas (places lacking sufficient doctors, nurses, or other providers).
- Priorities for Funding: Preference goes to organizations that ran health workforce or access programs during a public health emergency (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic).
- Definitions: A "community-based organization" is defined as a nonprofit or public entity that supports community activities, per the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
- Funding Authorization: Allocates funds as follows:
- $50 million for fiscal year 2026.
- $55 million for 2027.
- $60 million for 2028.
- $65 million for 2029.
- $70 million for 2030.
- Up to 5% of funds can cover HHS administrative costs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Part P of Title III of the Public Health Service Act (which deals with preventive health measures) by introducing a new grant program specifically targeted at faith- and community-based organizations. It builds on existing health equity efforts but adds a dedicated funding stream for innovative, community-driven solutions, with an emphasis on organizations operating in shortage areas and during emergencies. No existing programs are repealed or altered; this expands available tools for addressing disparities.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS will gain authority and resources to administer the grant program, potentially increasing its role in partnering with local organizations to reduce health inequities. This could streamline federal support for preventive care but may require additional oversight to ensure effective use of funds.
- On Citizens: Underserved communities, particularly those facing racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic health disparities, could benefit from improved access to preventive services, screenings, and culturally sensitive care, potentially reducing chronic disease rates and barriers to timely treatment.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. health programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Faith- and Community-Based Organizations: Primary recipients, especially those in underserved areas with experience in health programs.
- Underserved Communities: Residents in medically underserved or shortage areas, including racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately affected by chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
- Health Workers and Navigators: Community health workers, peer specialists, and similar roles who gain support for expanding services.
- HHS and Federal Government: Responsible for grant administration, evaluation, and reporting.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The program aligns with existing federal laws on health equity (e.g., under the Affordable Care Act) and grant-making to nonprofits. It requires compliance with anti-discrimination rules for federally funded programs, ensuring services are accessible without regard to religion, despite involving faith-based groups.
- Constitutional: Funding faith-based organizations for secular health services is permissible under the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, as upheld in Supreme Court cases like Town of Greece v. Galloway (2014), provided there is no endorsement of religion and services remain neutral.
- Political: Introduced by Senators Gillibrand, Booker, and Padilla (Democrats), it emphasizes community-driven innovation, which could foster bipartisan support for health equity. However, debates may arise over prioritizing faith-based entities or the adequacy of funding levels amid broader budget constraints. No major controversies are evident in the bill text itself.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-16: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-09-16: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Health Access Innovation Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-16 — PDF (4 pages)