Sec. 206. Direct care professional career advancement demonstration projects
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Section 2008 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397g ) is amended— by adding at the end the following new subsection: The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall award, from the amount appropriated under paragraph (4), grants to eligible entities to conduct demonstration projects that are designed to provide eligible individuals with opportunities for education, training, and career advancement as a direct care professional, including as a personal or home care aide, home health aide, or nursing aide or assistant.
In this subsection: The term eligible entity has the meaning given such term in subsection (a). The term eligible individual means an individual— whose income does not exceed 200 percent of the poverty line (as defined in section 2110(c)(5)) applicable to a family of the size involved; and who is employed as a direct care professional who— has at least 30 percent patient volume (as estimated in accordance with a methodology established by the Secretary) attributable to individuals who are receiving medical assistance under title XIX; or is employed by an agency that is a provider of personal or home care services that has at least 30 percent of the agency’s patient volume (as so estimated) attributable to such individuals.
The term direct care professional has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act. The Secretary shall ensure that not less than half of the demonstration projects supported by grants awarded under this subsection support— eligible individuals in rural areas (as defined in section 2007(f)(5)); eligible individuals in underserved urban areas (including urban health professional shortage areas (as defined in section 332 of the Public Health Service Act); eligible individuals who are women, who are from communities of color, or who belong to other underserved and diverse populations such as Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, or Alaska Native communities; and eligible individuals with disabilities.
In no case shall the Secretary award an eligible entity a grant to conduct a demonstration project under this subsection in an amount that exceeds $750,000 for each year that the entity conducts such project. An eligible entity awarded a grant to conduct a demonstration project under this subsection shall submit interim reports to the Secretary on the activities carried out under the project and a final report on such activities upon the conclusion of the entities’ participation in the project.
The Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration shall evaluate the demonstration projects conducted under this subsection. Such evaluation shall include identification of successful activities for creating opportunities for developing and sustaining, particularly with respect to low-income individuals and direct care professionals, a health or human services professions workforce that has accessible opportunities for career advancement, that meets high standards for education, training, certification, and professional development, that provides increased wages and affordable benefits, including health care coverage, that are responsive to the workforce’s needs, and that is responsive to the needs of diverse racial and ethnic communities.
Not later than 1 year after the demonstration projects conducted under this subsection conclude, the Secretary shall submit a final report to Congress on such demonstration projects that includes— the result of the evaluation conducted under clause (ii); recommendations for best practices; and such recommendations for legislation or administrative actions as the Secretary deems appropriate. Not later than 1 year after the demonstration projects conducted under this subsection conclude, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and make publicly available, a report on the activities and results of such projects.
Such report shall describe— the number and geographic distribution of the grants awarded under this subsection; the participation of underrepresented and economically disadvantaged participants in demonstration projects conducted under this subsection; and recommendations for program revisions to achieve the desired program outcome. Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030. .
Section 1834 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: In the case of long-term care services furnished on or after October 1, 2026, by a direct care professional who has successfully completed education or training under a demonstration project under section 2008(e), in addition to the amount of payment that would otherwise be made for such services under this part, there also shall be paid an amount equal to 25 percent of the payment amount for the service under this part to be paid to the direct care professional. .
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Sec. 206
Direct care professional career advancement demonstration projects
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