Reps. Adams, Ruiz, Sen. Blunt Rochester Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Community Health Worker Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12),Congressman Raul Ruiz (CA-25), and Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE) introduced the Community Health Worker Access Act, legislation that would improve Medicare coverage for community health worker services and encourage states to cover these services under their Medicaid programs.

"One of my core beliefs as a legislator is that healthcare should be affordable and accessible," said Congresswoman Adams. "Community health workers help provide preventative care, basic health screenings, and frontline medical support in our neighborhoods. This bill will strengthen the community health workforce and close long-standing gaps in access to care for underserved communities, especially in rural areas."

"Community health workers are often the first and most trusted connection our communities have to the health care system," said Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25). "In the Coachella Valley, Imperial Valley, San Jacinto Valley, and the Pass area, they close gaps that clinics and hospitals alone cannot. This bill recognizes that work and invests in it, so families get the coordinated, culturally responsive care they deserve."

"Accessing the right care can feel impossible in our increasingly complex healthcare system, but community health workers help bridge the gap. From connecting people with the right providers to serving as trusted advisors, these community-based navigators drastically improve the quality of life for their neighbors," said Senator Blunt Rochester. "I'm proud to introduce the Community Health Worker Access Act to add coverage for community health workers under Medicare and formally acknowledge the vital role they play in keeping our communities healthy and safe."

Community health workers serve as a bridge between patients and the formal health care system, especially for high-risk, high-need, and underserved populations. Their work includes basic health screenings, chronic disease symptom management, health education, and helping patients navigate complex health systems.

These programs could save Medicaid an average of $4,200 per beneficiary every year. Every dollar invested in community health worker services is worth over double that amount in savings.

The bill creates two new categories of reimbursable services under Medicare:

• Preventative services to avoid illness, reduce physical or mental disability, and restore body function.
• Educational services and referrals to health care and community-based resources to address health-related social needs, including assistance navigating insurance enrollment, easing transportation barriers, and connecting patients to support services.

The bill also allows state Medicaid programs to cover the same services with an increased Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to help offset state costs.

You can read the full bill here.