Medicaid Accountability Act

To apply the Medicaid asset verification program to all applicants for, and recipients of, medical assistance in all States and territories, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medicaid Accountability Act 2. Application of Medicaid asset test to all applicants for, and recipients of, medical assistance in all States and territories (a) Application to all applicants and recipients Section 1940(b)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396w(b)(1)(A) on the basis of being aged, blind, or disabled (b) Application to the territories Section 1940(a) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396w(a) (c) Effective date The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. (d) Phase-In implementation (1) In general During the 180 day period that begins on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall require States to submit and implement an asset verification program under section 1940 of the Social Security Act (as amended by subsections (a) and (b)) in such manner as is designed to result in the application of such programs, in the aggregate for all States, to enrollment of approximately, but not less than, the following percentage of enrollees, in the aggregate for all States, by the end of the fiscal year involved: (A) 12.5 percent by the end of fiscal year 2020. (B) 25 percent by the end of fiscal year 2021. (C) 50 percent by the end of fiscal year 2022. (D) 75 percent by the end of fiscal year 2023. (E) 100 percent by the end of fiscal year 2024. (2) Consideration In selecting States under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consult with the States involved and take into account the feasibility of implementing asset verification programs in each such State. (3) Construction Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed as preventing a State from requesting, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services from approving, the implementation of an asset verification program in advance of the deadline otherwise established under such paragraph. 3. Medicaid resources eligibility requirement (a) In general Section 1902(e)(14)(C) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(14)(C) (C) Resources test requirement (i) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, in the case of any individual with respect to whom a determination of income eligibility for medical assistance under the State plan or under any waiver of such plan is required, the State shall also apply a resources eligibility test that meets the requirement of clause (ii). (ii) Requirement A State resources eligibility test meets the requirement of this clause if the test precludes eligibility for any individual whose resources (as determined under section 1613 for purposes of the supplemental security income program) exceed the maximum amount of resources that an individual may have and obtain benefits under that program, or such lower amount of resources as the State shall establish. . (b) Effective date (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2020. (2) Rule for changes requiring State legislation In the case of a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396

Summary: Medicaid Accountability Act This bill establishes and expands certain requirements relating to Medicaid asset verification programs and other eligibility determinations. Specifically, the bill requires state Medicaid programs to verify the assets of all Medicaid applicants and recipients for purposes of determining Medicaid eligibility, rather than only of applicants or recipients who are aged, blind, or disabled. The bill also requires U.S. territories to implement asset verification programs. Such requirements must be fully implemented by FY2024. The bill also requires state Medicaid programs to apply a resource eligibility test whenever an income eligibility determination is required, based on resource limitations under the Supplemental Security Income program (currently, states are prohibited from using resource tests).