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To combat loneliness and increase social connection, and for other purposes.
1/4/2025, 11:12 AM
Summary of Bill HR 10448
The main goal of the bill is to combat loneliness and increase social connection among individuals of all ages. It proposes a variety of strategies to achieve this, including:
1. Establishing a task force to study the causes and effects of loneliness and social isolation. 2. Providing grants to community organizations and non-profits to implement programs that promote social connection. 3. Supporting research on effective interventions to combat loneliness. 4. Encouraging the development of technology-based solutions to connect individuals who may be isolated. The bill also includes provisions to ensure that vulnerable populations, such as older adults, individuals with disabilities, and veterans, are specifically targeted for support. Overall, the Loneliness and Social Connection Act seeks to raise awareness about the importance of social connection and provide resources to help individuals build and maintain meaningful relationships. By addressing loneliness at a national level, the bill aims to improve the overall well-being of Americans and strengthen communities across the country.
Congressional Summary of HR 10448
Combating Loneliness Act
This bill creates and expands programs that promote mental health to address loneliness and that support the mental and community health workforce.
The bill creates grant programs that address loneliness by supporting community facilities (e.g., parks) and community outreach to at-risk individuals. It also expands grants promoting healthy lifestyles for older individuals to include services addressing loneliness.
In addition, the bill expands Medicare and Medicaid to include services provided by community health workers and increases the Medicaid federal matching rate for these services. It also expands Medicare to include certified community behavioral health clinic services.
The bill provides statutory authority for grants for developing school-based mental health programs and services. It also establishes grants for partnerships between certain entities, such as between hospitals and schools, to coordinate group therapy for mental health. The bill reauthorizes through FY2029 the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program and expands it to include mental health services and community service. It also reauthorizes for FY2026 grants for health care services in schools provided under Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
The bill establishes a program for repaying student loans for individuals providing mental health services in designated shortage areas. It also makes community health workers eligible for the National Health Service Corps’ federal loan repayment program.
Additionally, the bill reauthorizes through FY2029 grant programs supporting full-service community schools, substance abuse recovery, and mental health for the health care workforce. It also requires a Government Accountability Office study on social isolation.
