Health CARE Training Act
The Health CARE Training Act would make two changes to health profession opportunity grant (HPOG) programs under the Social Security Act. First, it requires training for participants in eligible HPOG demonstration projects to achieve a recognized postsecondary credential, with a minimum number of training hours equal to the state-required hours for that skill level (or, if no state requirement exists, hours the Secretary determines are necessary). This aligns HPOG training with credentialing standards and aims to improve job readiness and advancement in health care occupations. Second, it would exclude cash stipends or emergency assistance provided under these projects from being treated as taxable income for federal tax purposes and would relieve entities from providing certain tax information returns for these payments. Both changes take effect October 1, 2025. The act is titled the Health CARE Training Act.
Key Points
- 1Adds a training requirement for HPOG participants: eligible individuals must receive at least a minimum number of training hours to obtain a recognized postsecondary credential, with hours tied to state certification requirements or, if none exist, hours determined by the Secretary.
- 2Recognized credentials covered include industry-recognized credentials and certificates from local workforce development boards under the WIOA, Sec. 107.
- 3Tax treatment change: cash stipends or emergency assistance paid under an HPOG project would not be considered taxable income under the Internal Revenue Code, and institutions paying these stipends would not need to file certain information returns.
- 4Effective dates: the training-hours requirement and the tax exclusion apply to amounts paid on or after October 1, 2025.
- 5Short title: The Health CARE Training Act.