This bill seeks to improve access to care and health outcomes in rural and underserved communities by strengthening the health center workforce. It prioritizes Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) for National Health Service Corps assignments in health professional shortage areas. Additionally, it establishes a new grant program for FQHCs to offer loan repayments to healthcare professionals, addressing critical workforce shortages. The legislation creates a comprehensive workforce pipeline by authorizing grants to health centers for recruitment, training, and career advancement . It mandates that the Secretary of Labor revise regulations to allow FQHCs to register as apprenticeship programs. Furthermore, it enables grants for institutions of higher education to partner with health centers, offering formal training and mentorships in various health professions, and provides grants specifically for training and retaining behavioral health specialists . To expand graduate medical education, the bill allows payments to Teaching Health Centers with agreements for residency programs and increases the Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) resident cap for hospitals partnering with FQHCs. Finally, it broadens FQHC services under Medicare and Medicaid to include those provided by behavioral health consultants, peer support specialists, and case managers , effective October 1, 2025. The bill also requires annual studies and guidance on best practices for State Medicaid payment adjustments to FQHCs.