H.B. 688 Summary

• Establishes a three-year Rural Community Health Worker Pilot Program under the Department of Health to provide outreach, education, training, and navigation services to residents of rural communities and address social determinants of health.

• Community health workers in the program will provide health education, individual support and assistance, cultural competency and advocacy, and data collection and reporting services within rural communities as defined by critical access hospital service areas.

• Requires the Department of Health to contract with a nonprofit organization that has experience serving rural communities, demonstrates cultural competency, and has a board and staff consisting of a majority of rural residents to recruit, train, assign, and supervise community health workers.

• Mandates interim reports to the legislature before the 2026, 2027, and 2028 sessions and a final report before the 2029 session documenting program activities, accomplishments, and recommendations on whether to extend the program beyond three years.

• Appropriates unspecified funds from general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027; takes effect July 1, 2025.