House Bill 588 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kenyatte HassellRepresentative

Democrat

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Community Health Worker Certification Act; board created; core competency skills framework specified; training programs and certification procedures provided; Medicaid reimbursement approval sought

Summary

HB588 would create a statewide Community Health Worker Certification Act, establishing a board, core competencies, training and certification processes, a dedicated fund, and steps to secure Medicaid reimbursement for CHW services.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Community Health Worker Certification Board and defines its membership, powers, and duties; it sets a minimum core competency skills framework for CHWs and requires training programs through K-12 career tech schools and higher education institutions; it creates a certification program with multiple pathways and reciprocity, and authorizes the board to discipline certified workers; it also directs the Alabama Medicaid Agency to seek federal approvals to support reimbursement for CHW services.

Who It Affects

• Community health workers (existing and future) who can pursue certification, meet training and competency requirements, and use the certified title or work under employer rules if not certified.
• Employers, payers, and public programs (including Alabama Medicaid) which may require CHW certification for employment or reimbursement and will interact with the board on standards, fees, and training requirements.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Community Health Worker Certification Board with specified co-chairs from the Department of Education and the Alabama Community Health Worker Coalition and expanding membership to include lawmakers, education leaders, and CHW representatives.
• Specifies a core competency skills framework with 11 areas (including communication, service navigation, public health knowledge, cultural competency, and field experience) and requires alignment with national CHW standards.
• Requires training programs through public K-12 career tech schools, two-year and four-year colleges, and other approved providers, with minimum training requirements and opportunities for college credit or prior learning recognition.
• Establishes a voluntary certification program with multiple pathways (e.g., grandfathering, work experience, examinations) and reciprocity with other states, while requiring Alabama certification for recognition as a certified CHW.
• Creates the Community Health Worker Certification Board Fund in the State Treasury to manage board receipts and ensure funds are used for board purposes, with potential gifts and donations.
• Defines title use rules: only certified CHWs may use the title 'certified community health worker' or 'CCHW'; others may use 'community health worker' or 'CHW'.
• Authorizes the board to deny, suspend, revoke, or discipline CHWs for cause and to adopt rules for procedures, fees, certification standards, and complaint handling.
• Requires the Alabama Medicaid Agency, in coordination with the board, to seek federal approvals for reimbursement mechanisms (including waivers or alternative payment models) to support CHW services where allowed by law.
• Sets an effective date of October 1, 2026, for the act to take effect.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 10, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health