HR 591 PA

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PRINTER'S NO. 3799 TH E GE N ER AL A S SE MB L Y OF P ENN SY L VA NI A HOUSE RESOLUTION No. 591 Session of 2026 INTRODUCED BY FRANKEL, MAYES, GUZMAN, D. WILLIAMS, WAXMAN, HILL- EVANS, DEASY, HOHENSTEIN, RIVERA, SANCHEZ, GALLAGHER, PASHINSKI AND MAZZOCCO, JULY 24, 2026 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, JULY 27, 2026 A RESOLUTION Designating October 20, 2026, as "Community Health Worker Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania. WHEREAS, Community health workers are trusted, community- rooted public health workers who are members of, or have an unusually close understanding of, the communities they serve; and WHEREAS, These workers serve as liaisons, links and intermediaries between communities, health care providers, public health agencies, social service organizations, community- based organizations and local resources; and WHEREAS, Community health workers help individuals and families access care, navigate complex health and social service systems, connect to resources, manage chronic conditions and improve health and well-being; and WHEREAS, They provide culturally and linguistically appropriate health education, outreach, advocacy, referral, follow-up, care coordination, system navigation, informal 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

counseling, social support and community connection; and WHEREAS, These workers are known by many titles, including community health worker, promotor or promotora de salud, community health representative, outreach worker, patient navigator, community health advocate, care guide and other community-facing roles; and WHEREAS, Community health workers are a distinct workforce whose value is grounded in trust, lived experience, community connection, cultural understanding, language access, relationship-building, advocacy and practical knowledge of local systems and resources; and WHEREAS, Community health workers provide services in all 67 counties of this Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, As of June 2026, Pennsylvania has 728 Certified Community Health Workers; and WHEREAS, Pennsylvania workforce data estimates approximately 2,492 employed community health workers in this Commonwealth and an annual demand for an additional approximately 288 community health workers; and WHEREAS, Community health workers are employed across a broad range of settings, including community-based organizations, federally qualified health centers, hospitals, health systems, physician offices, outpatient care centers, public health agencies, managed care organizations, local government, home health providers, social service organizations, schools and other community-serving entities; and WHEREAS, Community health workers support Pennsylvanians across the lifespan, including children, families, older adults, pregnant and parenting individuals, people living with chronic conditions, people with disabilities, individuals experiencing 20260HR0591PN3799 - 2 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

food or housing insecurity, people with behavioral health needs and people facing barriers to care; and WHEREAS, These workers help address barriers that affect health and well-being, including transportation, housing, food access, health literacy, language access, insurance navigation, social isolation, difficulty accessing care and difficulty connecting to community-based services; and WHEREAS, They play an important role in prevention, chronic disease management, maternal and child health, asthma care, diabetes care, cardiovascular health, behavioral health, cancer screening, public health outreach, resource navigation and care coordination; and WHEREAS, Research has demonstrated that community health worker interventions can improve health outcomes, strengthen chronic disease management, support primary care connection, reduce avoidable health care utilization, improve care coordination and generate cost savings; and WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has established a Certified Community Health Worker credential that recognizes the education, experience, supervision and professional responsibilities of community health workers; and WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's Physical HealthChoices Program began covering community health worker services in 2026, marking a significant step toward sustainable financing and formal recognition of the workforce; and WHEREAS, The continued development of the community health worker workforce requires investment in training, certification, supervision, career pathways, fair compensation, sustainable reimbursement, data infrastructure and meaningful leadership in decisions affecting this workforce; therefore be it 20260HR0591PN3799 - 3 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate October 20, 2026, as "Community Health Worker Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it further RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the significant contributions of community health workers to health care, public health, social services and communities across this Commonwealth; and be it further RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives support continued awareness, investment and policy development that helps community health workers improve access to care, strengthen prevention and chronic disease management, support communities across this Commonwealth and create meaningful career pathways for community-rooted professionals. 20260HR0591PN3799 - 4 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13