HEALS Act

Helping Enable Access to Lifesaving Services Act or the HEALS Act

This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 multiple programs that support education and training for mental and behavioral health care professionals. It also extends until FY2026 liability protections for health care professionals who volunteer their services at community health centers.

Specifically, the bill reauthorizes

• grants for health professional schools and related programs for mental and behavioral health education and training;
• a demonstration program that trains health care professionals to provide mental and behavioral health services in underserved, community-based settings; and
• a fellowship program to provide postbaccalaureate training to improve the quality of mental health and substance use disorder services for racial and ethnic minority populations.