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HR10448FEDERALIN_COMMITTEE
High Impact

The Combating Loneliness Act (H.R. 10448)

Original title: Combating Loneliness Act

December 17, 2024

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Where This Stands

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

If enacted, this legislation would authorize billions of dollars in new federal spending over five years to create '' community facilities, fund social infrastructure projects, and expand the mental health workforce, directly impacting the availability of social and clinical support services for seniors, youth, and underserved populations.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Community Health Workers

Their services become eligible for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, and they are added to the National Health Service Corps loan repayment program.

Mental Health Professionals

Eligible for up to $75,000 in student loan repayment in exchange for service in designated shortage areas.

State and Local Governments

Eligible to apply for competitive federal grants to fund community programs and social infrastructure.

Older Adults

The bill adds 'loneliness' to the Older Americans Act, potentially increasing focus and resources for this demographic.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Background

  • Ms. Balint and Mr. Tonko are members of the U.S. House of Representatives. context

Summary

This bill proposes a wide-ranging federal strategy to reduce loneliness and social isolation through new grant programs, expanded mental health services, and increased funding for community infrastructure. It includes provisions to integrate community health workers into Medicare and Medicaid, provide student loan forgiveness for mental health professionals, and increase support for school-based mental health programs.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 'third-space' under this bill?
A '' refers to community facilities like libraries, senior centers, childcare centers, or recreation centers that bring people together.
Does this bill provide direct payments to individuals?
No, the bill provides grants to state/local governments and organizations, and offers student loan repayment for mental health professionals who commit to working in shortage areas.
When would Medicare and Medicaid start covering community health worker services?
Coverage is scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026.

Why It Matters

If enacted, this legislation would authorize billions of dollars in new federal spending over five years to create '' community facilities, fund social infrastructure projects, and expand the mental health workforce, directly impacting the availability of social and clinical support services for seniors, youth, and underserved populations.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Integration of Social and Clinical Care

The bill marks a significant policy shift by formally integrating community health worker services into the clinical reimbursement structures of Medicare and Medicaid.

Connected Entities

personVeteransExperiences of isolationMap →
organizationNHSCLoan repayment programMap →
otherCHIPSupport for School-based servicesMap →
personLatinx and Hispanic adultsCategorized as lonelyMap →
personBalint, Ms.Introduced the billMap →
personTonko, Mr.Co-sponsored the billMap →
organizationEducation and the Workforce CommitteeCommittee referralMap →
organizationEnergy and Commerce CommitteeReferral committeeMap →
organizationFinancial Services CommitteeCommittee referralMap →
organizationHHSWorking group on lonelinessMap →
bill_numberOlder Americans Act of 1965Reference to loneliness measurementMap →
organizationCommunity Health WorkerServices under Medicare and FMAPMap →
organizationWays and Means CommitteeCommittee referralMap →
organizationU.S. Government Publishing OfficePublished the Congressional BillsMap →
personLGBTQI+ youthHigher levels of lonelinessMap →
otherProject AWARESupport for Project AWAREMap →
personOlder adultsVulnerability to lonelinessMap →
otherFull-Service Community Schools ProgramSupport for this programMap →
organizationGAOStudy and report on social isolationMap →
personBlack and African American adultsCategorized as lonelyMap →
otherMedicareCoverage of Community Health Worker servicesMap →

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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