# 119-hr-8629: Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026

119-hr-8629, Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] (D-CA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8629
- As of: 2026-10-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8629
- Congress: 119
- Title: Developing the Community Health Workforce Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-30
- Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-10

## Summary

**Expand the health center workforce in rural and underserved communities.** This bill would create loan-repayment and career-pipeline programs, boost residency training at teaching health centers, and add Medicare and Medicaid coverage for behavioral health and case management at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). - Families: More access to mental health and case management at FQHCs through Medicare and Medicaid, which could make it easier to get integrated care near home. - Health professionals and workers: Creates a health center loan repayment program to pay down student debt and funds a Community Health Center Workforce Pipeline for recruitment, apprenticeships, and stipends for behavioral health specialists. FQHCs could register as apprenticeship programs within 180 days. - Rural hospitals and training programs: Expands Graduate Medical Education through Teaching Health Centers with covered residency agreements of at least 2 years. Certain hospitals would get 3 additional full‑time equivalent residency slots for cost periods starting on or after October 1, 2025. It also requires a study and annual guidance on Medicaid payment adjustments for FQHCs due October 1, 2025.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12] (R-FL), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More behavioral and case management: benefit, medium. If enacted, Medicare would cover services at Federally Qualified Health Centers furnished by behavioral health consultants, peer support specialists, and by a defined case manager for services on or after October 1, 2025. If enacted, Medicaid would also cover case management services furnished on o…
- More training and loan help: benefit, medium. If enacted, HHS would award grants to Federally Qualified Health Centers to repay clinicians' student loans and to hire and train staff. Grant applications would need plans showing regional workforce needs, loan-repayment plans, and use of interdisciplinary care teams. The Secretary would be able t…
- More residency slots at centers: benefit, low. If enacted, hospitals with residency programs that train a significant portion at a health center would get 3 extra Medicare residency slots for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2025. If enacted, Teaching Health Center payments would also apply to programs that have a written…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-8629 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8629)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8870)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9237)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8629 (as of 2026-10-10).