At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act of 2018

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to protect at-risk youth against termination of Medicaid eligibility while an inmate of a public institution. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act of 2018 2. At-risk youth Medicaid protection (a) In general Section 1902 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking and (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (83) and inserting ; and (C) by inserting after paragraph (83) the following new paragraph: (84) provide that— (A) the State shall not terminate eligibility for medical assistance under the State plan for an individual who is an eligible juvenile (as defined in subsection (nn)(2)) because the juvenile is an inmate of a public institution (as defined in subsection (nn)(3)), but may suspend coverage during the period the juvenile is such an inmate; (B) in the case of an individual who is an eligible juvenile described in paragraph (2)(A) of subsection (nn), the State shall, prior to the individual’s release from such a public institution, conduct a redetermination of eligibility for such individual with respect to such medical assistance (without requiring a new application from the individual) and, if the State determines pursuant to such redetermination that the individual continues to meet the eligibility requirements for such medical assistance, the State shall restore coverage for such medical assistance to such an individual upon the individual’s release from such public institution; and (C) in the case of an individual who is an eligible juvenile described in paragraph (2)(B) of subsection (nn), the State shall process any application for medical assistance submitted by, or on behalf of, such individual such that the State makes a determination of eligibility for such individual with respect to such medical assistance upon release of such individual from such public institution. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (nn) Juvenile; eligible juvenile; public institution For purposes of subsection (a)(84) and this subsection: (1) Juvenile The term juvenile (A) under 21 years of age; or (B) described in subsection (a)(10)(A)(i)(IX). (2) Eligible juvenile The term eligible juvenile (A) was determined eligible for medical assistance under the State plan immediately before becoming an inmate of such a public institution; or (B) is determined eligible for such medical assistance while an inmate of a public institution. (3) Inmate of a public institution The term inmate of a public institution . (b) No change in exclusion from medical assistance for inmates of public institutions Nothing in this section shall be construed as changing the exclusion from medical assistance under the subdivision (A) following paragraph (29) of section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396d(a) (c) No change in continuity of eligibility before adjudication or sentencing Nothing in this section shall be construed to mandate, encourage, or suggest that a State suspend or terminate coverage for individuals before they have been adjudicated or sentenced. (d) Effective date (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to eligibility of juveniles who become inmates of public institutions on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Rule for changes requiring state legislation In the case of a State plan for medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by subsection (a), the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such title solely on the basis of its failure to meet these additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature. June 12, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act of 2018 This bill prohibits a state Medicaid program from terminating a juvenile's medical assistance eligibility because the juvenile is incarcerated. A state may suspend coverage while the juvenile is an inmate, but must reevaluate the juvenile's eligibility prior to the juvenile's release (without requiring a new application) and, if appropriate, restore coverage upon release. A state must also process an application submitted by, or on behalf of, an incarcerated juvenile in a manner that ensures the juvenile's eligibility is determined upon release. A "juvenile" is an individual who: (1) is under 21 years of age; or (2) has aged out of the state's foster care system, was enrolled in the state plan while in foster care, and is under 26 years of age.