H.R.8541

H. R. 8541

April 28, 2026

Mrs. Dingell (for herself and Ms. Matsui) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, House Administration, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To support the direct care professional workforce, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents; 2. Findings and purposes; 3. Definitions; TITLE I—IMPROVING REIMBURSEMENT; 101. Additional support for Medicaid long-term care services provided by direct care professionals; 102. Additional support for Medicaid long-term care services and direct care professionals; 103. Making permanent the State option to extend protection under Medicaid for recipients of home and community-based services against spousal impoverishment; 104. Permanent extension of money follows the person rebalancing demonstration; TITLE II—TRAINING, RECRUITMENT, CAREER ADVANCEMENT, AND WORKER SUPPORTS; CHAPTER 1—GRANTS FOR SUPPORTING THE DIRECT CARE PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE; 201. Definitions; 202. Authority to award grants; 203. Project plans; 204. Uses of funds; supplement, not supplant; CHAPTER 2—OTHER WORKFORCE TRAINING GRANTS; 205. Workforce investment activities grants for domestic workers; 206. Direct care professional career advancement demonstration projects; 207. Pathways to health careers; 208. Increasing workforce diversity in allied health professionals and direct support professionals; 211. Technical assistance center for building the direct care professional workforce; 212. Report on efforts to enhance the direct care professional workforce; 213. Comprehensive geriatric education; 214. Review of the availability and quality of apprenticeship programs in long-term care settings; 215. Rural health workforce grant program; 221. Assessment of direct care professional well-being; 222. National Direct Care Professional Training Standards Commission; 231. Mental health services; 232. Dissemination of best practices with respect to mental health of direct care professionals; 233. Education and awareness initiative encouraging use of mental health and substance use disorder services by direct care professionals; 234. Direct care professional training grants; 235. Credit for certain health care professionals; 236. Direct Care Professional Workforce Equity Technical Assistance Center; TITLE III—WORKFORCE LABOR PROTECTIONS; 301. Definitions; 302. Direct care professional workforce wage theft prevention and wage recovery grant program; 311. Definitions; 312. Written agreements; 313. Fair scheduling practices; 314. Right to request and receive temporary changes to scheduled work hours due to personal events; 315. Privacy; 316. Breaks for meals and rest; 317. Prohibited acts; 318. Enforcement authority; 319. Effect on existing employment benefits and other laws; 321. Workplace Violence Prevention Standard; 322. Scope and application; 323. Requirements for Workplace Violence Prevention Standard; 324. Rules of construction; 325. Definitions; 326. Application of the Workplace Violence Prevention Standard to certain facilities receiving Medicare funds; 331. Definitions; 332. Paid sick time; 333. Notice requirement; 334. Prohibited acts; 335. Enforcement authority; 336. Education and outreach; 337. Effect on existing employment benefits; 338. Encouragement of more generous leave policies; 339. Regulations; 339A. Effective date; 339B. Collection of data and further study; TITLE IV—NATIONAL DIRECT CARE PROFESSIONAL COMPENSATION STRATEGY; 401. Definitions; 402. National Direct Care Professional Compensation Strategy; 403. National Direct Care Professional Compensation Advisory Council; 404. Sunset provision; TITLE V—IMPROVING OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY; 501. Evaluation of implementation and outcomes

Increasing workforce diversity in allied health professionals and direct care professionals

Credit for certain health care professionals