# 119-s-5424: Community Health Worker Access Act

119-s-5424, Community Health Worker Access Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE] (D-DE); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5424
- As of: 2026-10-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5424
- Congress: 119
- Title: Community Health Worker Access Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-09-17
- Sponsor: Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE] (D-DE)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-10

## Summary

**This bill would create nationwide Medicare Part B coverage for community health services** and would give States a new Medicaid option to fund community health workforce services, both effective January 1, 2027. - Families and beneficiaries would get covered access to preventive and social-determinant services delivered by community health workers, with the Medicare Part B deductible waived for these services and Medicare payments set at 100% of the lesser of actual charge or a fee schedule. - Community health workers, promotoras, and community health representatives would be formally defined and supported. Community health agencies would face workforce standards like hiring workers with lived experience, paying market-based wages, offering professional development, keeping manageable caseloads, and including CHWs in leadership. - States would be able to add these services to their Medicaid plans and receive an enhanced Federal medical assistance percentage. The bill would raise the FMAP by 6 percentage points for approved preventive and SDOH services starting January 1, 2027, with special territorial cap treatment.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Higher Medicaid match for community health workers: benefit, medium. If enacted, the federal Medicaid match (FMAP) would increase by 6 percentage points for calendar quarters beginning January 1, 2027. The increase would apply to State spending on qualifying preventive and social-determinants services furnished by community health workers under an approved State pla…
- Medicare coverage for community health services: benefit, medium. If enacted, Medicare Part B would cover community health services furnished on or after January 1, 2027. Medicare would pay 100 percent of the lesser of the provider's actual charge or an amount on a Secretary-set fee schedule for these services. The Part B deductible would not apply to community h…
- New standards for community health workers: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would define community health services and set standards for community health agencies starting January 1, 2027. Community health services would include preventive services and services to address social determinants of health such as needs assessments, outreach, home visiting,…
- State Medicaid option for community health workers: benefit, medium. If enacted, states would be able to add Medicaid coverage for preventive and social-determinants services provided by community health workers starting January 1, 2027. States would need to adopt a Medicaid State plan amendment and follow federal guidance to get approval. The Secretary would issue…

## Related bills

- 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act

## Sources
- [119-s-5424 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5424)

## Related
- [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3869)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5424 (as of 2026-10-10).