Health Access Innovation Act of 2025

Bill Summary: Health Access Innovation Act of 2025 (S. 2825)

Overview

The Health Access Innovation Act of 2025 is a legislative proposal designed to reduce health disparities and improve access to quality medical care for underserved populations. The bill achieves this by establishing a new grant program under the Public Health Service Act, specifically targeting the social determinants of health and the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate care.

Main Purpose and Intent

The primary goal of the bill is to empower community-based and faith-based organizations to bridge the gap between marginalized populations and the healthcare system. By providing funding to organizations that operate within medically underserved areas, the bill seeks to eliminate barriers to care and address chronic disease challenges that disproportionately affect specific communities.

Key Provisions

The bill creates the Health Equity Innovation Grant Program, which allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for the following activities:

• Direct Care Costs: Funding for necessary medical services, health screenings, tests, and other preventive services.
• Expanding Access: Increasing the diversity of health workers and improving the availability of services tailored to the cultural and linguistic needs of the community.
• Workforce Support: Supporting "trusted messengers" with lived experiences, including:
  • Community health navigators and workers (promotores de salud).
  • Peer support specialists.
  • Community health representatives.
  • Faith- or community-based organization professionals.
• Addressing Social Determinants: Funding programs that target non-medical factors (social determinants) that impact health outcomes.

Eligibility and Priority

To be eligible for these grants, an entity must meet the following criteria:
1. Organization Type: Must be a faith-based or community-based organization.
2. Proven Track Record: Must demonstrate a history of addressing chronic health disparities in disproportionately affected communities.
3. Location: Must be situated in a medically underserved community or a designated health professional shortage area.

Priority Status: The Secretary is directed to give priority to organizations that established or operated health workforce or access programs during a public health emergency.

Funding and Timeline

The bill authorizes a graduated funding scale over five fiscal years to sustain and grow the program:

Administrative Limit: No more than 5% of the appropriated funds may be used by the Secretary for administrative costs, ensuring the vast majority of funding goes directly to community programs.

Procedural Status

• Introduced: September 16, 2025.
• Current Status: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.