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The bill directs sustained federal funding to expand locally trusted, culturally and linguistically appropriate health and social services in underserved areas—improving access and addressing social determinants of health—while increasing federal spending, reserving a portion for administration, and restricting eligibility/priorities in ways that could exclude some providers and new community entrants.
Residents in medically underserved areas (low-income, rural, and urban communities) will gain expanded culturally- and language-appropriate primary and preventive care because grants fund local organizations and allow hiring community health workers, navigators, and peer specialists.
Low-income individuals will have fewer barriers to health (like food insecurity and transportation) because the bill increases funding for local organizations to address social determinants of health.
Community-based organizations and hospitals will receive stable multi-year federal funding ($50M–$70M annually), helping build organizational capacity and sustain community health programs over time.
Patients with chronic conditions and hospitals may be harmed because eligibility limited to faith- or community-based groups in designated areas could exclude other providers who currently serve underserved patients.
Taxpayers will fund $50M–$70M per year in new federal spending, increasing budgetary outlays.
Community-based organizations and the people they serve will see up to 5% of grant funds used for administration, reducing the share available for direct services.
Creates a new HHS grant program to fund faith- and community-based organizations in medically underserved communities and health professional shortage areas to expand culturally and linguistically appropriate care, support community-based health workforce roles, and address social determinants of health. The program authorizes phased funding for FY2026–FY2029, allows up to 5% of funds for administration, and gives priority to organizations that ran workforce or access programs during a public health emergency.
Introduced September 16, 2025 by Nikema Williams · Last progress September 16, 2025