Health Access Innovation Act of 2025
The Health Access Innovation Act of 2025 would add a new grant program to the Public Health Service Act to fund faith- and community-based organizations that work to reduce persistent health inequities and chronic disease challenges. The Secretary of Health and Human Services could award grants to eligible entities to expand access to culturally and linguistically appropriate care, encourage innovation, and address social determinants of health. Eligible uses include paying for necessary medical services and preventive care, expanding access to care and a broader health workforce, and supporting roles such as community health navigators, community health workers (promotores de salud), peer support specialists, and other trusted messengers who help connect people to care. Grants would target organizations in medically underserved communities or in designated health professional shortage areas, with priority given to groups that operated health access programs during a public health emergency. The program would be funded starting in fiscal year 2026, with annual appropriations planned to increase through fiscal year 2030, and administrative costs capped at 5% of the funds.
Key Points
- 1Establishes the Health Equity Innovation Grant Program under the Public Health Service Act to fund faith- or community-based organizations aimed at expanding access to culturally and linguistically appropriate care and addressing health inequities and chronic disease.
- 2Eligible entities must be faith- or community-based, have demonstrated experience addressing chronic health disparities in disproportionately affected communities, and be located in medically underserved areas or health professional shortage areas.
- 3Authorized uses include paying for medical services and preventive care, expanding access to care (including a more diverse health workforce and linguistically/culturally appropriate services), and supporting community health workers, navigators, promotores, peer support specialists, and other trusted messengers.
- 4Priority given to entities that established or operated health workforce or care access programs during a public health emergency.
- 5Funding levels: $50 million in FY2026, rising to $70 million in FY2030, with no more than 5% of funds used for administrative costs.