‘‘(3) 
LIMITATIONS
ON
AUTHORITY.—Sub-
sections (a) and (b) shall not be construed to apply 
to any contract for hazard insurance, or to any pur-
chase or contract for services or supplies on account 
of such property if the amount thereof does not ex-
ceed $1,000. 
‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—The Trust Fund Board shall 
propose and the Secretary shall promulgate regulations 
governing procedures in the event of a default on a loan 
accepted for insurance under this subtitle.’’. 
TITLE III—PROVIDING RELIEF 
TO ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS 
SEC. 301. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDU-
CATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Education, shall enter into cooperative agreements with 
institutions of higher education in the Hurricane Katrina- 
affected area to enable such institutions to resume health 
care-related programs, including by— 
(1) retaining health and health care-related 
staff and personnel; and 
(2) paying costs incurred during the period be-
ginning on August 28, 2005, during which such in-
stitutions are unable to provide academic services at 
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full capacity because of the effects Hurricane 
Katrina. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To seek to enter into a coopera-
tive agreement under this section, an institution of higher 
education shall submit an application to the Secretary at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Secretary may require. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘institution of education’’ has the 
meaning given to that term in section 101 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(2) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006 and 
2007. 
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TITLE IV—RESTORING KEY COM-
PONENTS OF THE HEALTH 
CARE 
INFRASTRUCTURE 
IN 
MEDICALLY-NEEDY 
AND 
MEDICALLY 
UNDERSERVED 
AREAS 
SEC. 401. MEDICALLY-NEEDY KATRINA RECOVERY ZONES. 
(a) MEDICALLY-NEEDY KATRINA RECOVERY ZONE 
PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, acting through the Administrator 
of the Health Resources and Services Administration 
and the Director of the Office of Minority Health, 
and in cooperation with the Director of the Office of 
Community Services and the Director of the Na-
tional Center on Minority Health and Health Dis-
parities— 
(A) 
shall 
designate 
medically-needy 
Katrina recovery zones in accordance with para-
graph (2); and 
(B) shall make grants in accordance with 
paragraph (3). 
(2) 
DESIGNATION
OF
MEDICALLY-NEEDY 
KATRINA
RECOVERY
ZONES.—The Secretary shall 
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designate a community as a medically-needy Katrina 
recovery zone if— 
(A) a community partnership seeking a 
grant under this section requests that the com-
munity be designated as a medically-needy 
Katrina recovery zone; and 
(B) the community partnership dem-
onstrates, to the Secretary’s satisfaction, that 
the community— 
(i) is located in a Hurricane Katrina- 
affected area; and 
(ii) experiences disproportionate racial 
and ethnic disparities in health status and 
health care. 
(3) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make grants 
to community partnerships of private and public en-
tities to establish medically-needy Katrina recovery 
zone programs. 
(4) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants under this section 
shall be used for the establishment of a medically- 
needy Katrina recovery zone program to assist indi-
viduals, businesses, schools, minority health associa-
tions, nonprofit organizations, community-based or-
ganizations, hospitals, health care clinics, dental and 
mental health facilities and centers, substance abuse 
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facilities, hospice care organizations, and founda-
tions in a medically-needy Katrina recovery zone 
that are seeking— 
(A) to effectively access Federal programs 
to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in 
health status and health care; and 
(B) to coordinate the efforts of govern-
mental and private entities regarding the elimi-
nation of racial and ethnic disparities in health 
status and health care. 
(5) APPLICATION.—To seek the designation of 
a community as a medically-needy Katrina recovery 
zone and to obtain a grant under this section, a 
community partnership shall submit to the Secretary 
an application in such form and in such manner as 
the Secretary may require. An application under this 
paragraph shall— 
(A) demonstrate that the community to be 
served is a low-income community that experi-
ences disproportionate disparities in health sta-
tus and health care; 
(B) set forth a strategic plan for the pro-
posed medically-needy Katrina recovery zone 
program, by— 
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(i) describing the coordinated health, 
economic, human, community, and physical 
development plan and related activities 
proposed for the community involved; 
(ii) describing the inclusion of the 
community involved as a full partner in the 
process of developing, implementing, moni-
toring, and evaluating the strategic plan 
and the extent to which local institutions 
and organizations have contributed to the 
planning process; 
(iii) identifying the projected amount 
of Federal, State, local, and private re-
sources that will be available in the area 
and the private and public community 
partnerships to be used (including any par-
ticipation by or cooperation with univer-
sities, colleges, foundations, nonprofit orga-
nizations, medical centers, hospitals, health 
clinics, dental and mental health facilities 
and centers, substance abuse facilities, hos-
pice care organizations, school districts, or 
other private and public entities); 
(iv) identifying the funding requested 
under any Federal program in support of 
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the proposed health, economic, human, 
community, and physical development, and 
related activities; 
(v) identifying baselines, methods, 
health outcomes, and benchmarks for 
measuring the success of carrying out the 
strategic plan; 
(vi) demonstrating the ability to effec-
tively reach and service the targeted under-
served community populations in a cul-
turally appropriate and linguistically re-
sponsive manner; 
(vii) demonstrating a capacity and in-
frastructure to provide long-term commu-
nity response that is culturally appropriate 
and linguistically responsive to a commu-
nity that experiences disproportionate dis-
parities in health status and health care; 
and 
(viii) identifying the individuals who 
have agreed to serve as members of a 
medically-needy Katrina recovery zone co-
ordinating committee for the community 
involved; and 
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(C) include such other information as the 
Secretary may require. 
(6) PREFERENCE.—In awarding grants under 
this subsection, the Secretary shall give preference 
to proposals from indigenous community entities 
that have an expertise in providing culturally appro-
priate and linguistically responsive services to low-in-
come communities that experience disproportionate 
disparities in health status and health care. 
(b) FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEDICALLY-NEEDY 
KATRINA RECOVERY ZONE GRANT PROGRAMS.—The Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services, the Administrator 
of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of 
Agriculture, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of 
Labor, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment shall each— 
(1) where appropriate, provide entity-specific 
technical assistance and evidence-based strategies to 
low-income communities that experience dispropor-
tionate disparities in health status and health care 
to further the purposes of a medically-needy Katrina 
recovery zone program described in subsection 
(a)(5); 
(2) identify all programs administered by the 
Department of Health and Human Services, the 
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Small Business Administration, the Department of 
Agriculture, the Department of Education, the De-
partment of Labor, and the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, respectively, that may be 
used to further the purposes of a medically-needy 
Katrina recovery zone program described in sub-
section (a)(5); and 
(3) in administering any program identified 
under paragraph (2), give priority to any individual 
or entity located in a community served by a medi-
cally-needy Katrina recovery zone program under 
subsection (a) if such priority would further the pur-
poses of the medically-needy Katrina recovery zone 
program described in subsection (a)(5). 
(c) MEDICALLY-NEEDY KATRINA RECOVERY ZONE 
COORDINATING COMMITTEE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—For each medically- 
needy Katrina recovery zone program established 
with a grant under subsection (a), the Secretary, 
acting through the Director of the Office of Minority 
Health and the Administrator of the Health Re-
sources and Services Administration, shall establish 
a medically-needy Katrina recovery zone coordi-
nating committee. 
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(2) DUTIES.—Each coordinating committee es-
tablished, in coordination with the Director of the 
Office of Minority Health and the Administrator of 
the Health Resources and Services Administration, 
shall provide technical assistance and evidence-based 
strategies to the grant recipient involved, including 
providing guidance on research, strategies, health 
outcomes, program goals, management, implementa-
tion, monitoring, assessment, and evaluation proc-
esses. 
(3) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) APPOINTMENT.—The Director of the 
Office of Minority Health and the Adminis-
trator of the Health Resources and Services Ad-
ministration, in consultation with the respective 
grant recipient, shall appoint the members of 
each coordinating committee. 
(B) COMPOSITION.—The Director of the 
Office of Minority Health and the Adminis-
trator of the Health Resources and Services Ad-
ministration shall ensure that each coordinating 
committee— 
(i) has not more than 20 members; 
(ii) includes individuals from low-in-
come communities that experience dis-
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proportionate disparities in health status 
and health care; 
(iii) includes community leaders and 
leaders of community-based organizations; 
(iv) includes representatives of aca-
demia and lay and professional organiza-
tions and associations including those hav-
ing expertise in medicine, technical, social 
and behavioral science, health policy, advo-
cacy, cultural and linguistic competency, 
research management, dental and mental 
health, substance abuse, hospice care, and 
organization; and 
(v) represents a reasonable cross-sec-
tion of knowledge, views, and application 
of expertise on societal, ethical, behavioral, 
educational, policy, legal, cultural, lin-
guistic, and workforce issues related to 
eliminating disparities in health and health 
care. 
(C) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Director of 
the Office of Minority Health and the Adminis-
trator of the Health Resources and Services Ad-
ministration shall ensure that the members of 
each coordinating committee meet the following: 
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(i) No member is employed by the 
Federal Government. 
(ii) Each member has appropriate ex-
perience, including experience in the areas 
of community development, cultural and 
linguistic competency, reducing and elimi-
nating racial and ethnic disparities in 
health and health care, or minority health. 
(iii) A majority of the members reside 
in the medically-needy Katrina recovery 
zone involved. 
(D) SELECTION.—In selecting individuals 
to serve on a coordinating committee, the Di-
rector of the Office of Minority Health and the 
Administrator of the Health Resources and 
Services Administration shall give due consider-
ation to the recommendations of the Congress, 
industry leaders, the scientific community (in-
cluding the Institute of Medicine), academia, 
community-based nonprofit organizations, mi-
nority health and related organizations, the 
education community, State and local govern-
ments, and other appropriate organizations. 
(E) CHAIRPERSON.—The Director of the 
Office of Minority Health and the Adminis-
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trator of the Health Resources and Services Ad-
ministration, in consultation with the members 
of the coordinating committee involved, shall 
designate a chairperson of the coordinating 
committee, who shall serve for a term of 3 
years and who may be reappointed at the expi-
ration of each such term. 
(F) TERMS.—Each member of a coordi-
nating committee shall be appointed for a term 
of 1 to 3 years in overlapping staggered terms, 
as determined by the Director of the Office of 
Minority Health and the Administrator of the 
Health Resources and Services Administration 
at the time of appointment, and may be re-
appointed at the expiration of each such term. 
(G) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on a coordi-
nating committee shall be filled in the same 
manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
(H) COMPENSATION.—The members of a 
coordinating committee shall serve without pay. 
(I) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of 
a coordinating committee shall receive travel ex-
penses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, in accordance with applicable provisions 
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under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(4) STAFF; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.— 
(A) STAFF.—The chairperson of a coordi-
nating committee may appoint and fix the pay 
of additional personnel as the chairperson con-
siders appropriate. 
(B) EXPERTS
AND
CONSULTANTS.—The 
chairperson of a coordinating committee may 
procure temporary and intermittent services 
under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(5) MEETINGS.—A coordinating committee 
shall meet 3 to 5 times each year, at the call of the 
coordinating committee’s chairperson and in con-
sultation with the Director of the Office of Minority 
Health and the Administrator of the Health Re-
sources and Services Administration. 
(6) REPORT.—Each coordinating committee 
shall transmit to the Congress an annual report 
that, with respect to the medically-needy Katrina re-
covery zone program involved, includes the following: 
(A) A review of the program’s effectiveness 
in achieving stated goals and outcomes, and 
overcoming challenges. 
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(B) A review of the program’s manage-
ment and coordination of the entities involved. 
(C) A review of the activities in the pro-
gram’s portfolio and components. 
(D) An identification of policy issues raised 
by the program. 
(E) An assessment of program’s results in-
cluding that of capacity, infrastructure, number 
of underserved minority communities reached 
and retained in the effort in a defined time 
frame. 
(F) Recommendations for new program 
goals, research areas, enhanced approaches, 
community partnerships, coordination and man-
agement mechanisms, and projects to be estab-
lished to achieve the program’s stated goals, to 
improve outcomes, assessments, monitoring, 
and evaluation. 
(G) A review of the degree of minority en-
tities participation in the program, and an iden-
tification of a strategy to increase such partici-
pation. 
(H) Any other reviews or recommendations 
determined to be appropriate by the coordi-
nating committee. 
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(d) REPORT.—The Director of the Office of Minority 
Health and the Administrator of the Health Resources 
and Services Administration shall submit a joint annual 
report to the appropriate committees of the Congress on 
the results of the implementation of programs under this 
section. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COORDINATING
COMMITTEE.—The term 
‘‘coordinating committee’’ means a medically-needy 
Katrina recovery zone coordinating committee estab-
lished under this section. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$100,000,000 for the period of fiscal year 2006 through 
fiscal year 2007, and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013. 
SEC. 402. REPAIR AND DISPARITIES GRANTS. 
(a) CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR GRANTS.—The Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall make grants to public 
health facilities and loans to private health facilities, for 
the purpose of constructing, modernizing, or repairing 
hospitals; clinics; health centers; laboratories; medical, 
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mental, and dental health and hospice care clinics and cen-
ters; and other health facilities in the Hurricane Katrina- 
affected area damaged as a result of Hurricane Katrina 
including— 
(1) construction of hospitals, clinics, health cen-
ters, laboratories, hospice centers, mental health and 
substance abuse facilities that meet the standards of 
the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health 
care Organizations (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘JCAHO standards’’); 
(2) repair or modernization of such public or 
private hospitals or public facilities as provide health 
care or health-related services; and 
(3) bringing hospitals and public health facili-
ties in compliance with such JCAHO standards and 
requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Med-
icaid Services. 
(b) HEALTH DISPARITY GRANTS.—The Secretary, 
acting through the Administrator of the Health and 
Human Resources Administration and the Director of the 
Office of Minority Health, and in consultation with the 
Director of the Office of Community Services and the Di-
rector of the National Center on Minority Health and 
Health Disparities, shall make grants to assist individuals, 
hospitals, businesses, schools, minority health associa-
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tions, nonprofit organizations, community-based organiza-
tions, health care clinics, foundations, and other entities 
in communities that are located in a Hurricane Katrina- 
affected area, disproportionately experience disparities in 
health status and health care, and are seeking— 
(1) to improve the health of minority individ-
uals in the community and to reduce disparities in 
health status and health care by assisting individuals 
in accessing Federal programs or by other means; 
and 
(2) to coordinate the efforts of governmental 
and private entities regarding the elimination of ra-
cial and ethnic health status and health care. 
(c) APPLICATION.—To obtain a grant under this sec-
tion, an applicant shall submit to the Secretary an applica-
tion in such form and in such manner as the Secretary 
may require. An application for a grant under— 
(1) subsection (a) shall describe, with such 
specificity as the Secretary shall require, the damage 
sustained as a result of Hurricane Katrina and the 
steps proposed to address the damage; and 
(2) subsection (b) shall demonstrate that the 
communities to be served are those that dispropor-
tionately experience disparities in health status and 
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health care and shall set forth a strategic plan for 
reducing those disparities by— 
(A) describing the coordinated health, eco-
nomic, human, community, and physical devel-
opment plan and related activities proposed for 
the community; 
(B) identifying the projected amount of 
Federal, State, local and private resources that 
will be available in the area and the private and 
public partnerships to be used (including any 
participation by or cooperation with univer-
sities, colleges, foundations, non-profit organiza-
tions, medical centers, hospitals, health clinics, 
dental and mental health facilities and centers, 
substance abuse facilities, hospice care organi-
zations, school districts, or other private and 
public entities); 
(C) identifying the funding requested 
under any Federal program in support of the 
proposed activities; 
(D) identifying benchmarks for measuring 
the success of carrying out the strategic plan; 
(E) demonstrating the ability to reach and 
service the targeted underserved minority com-
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munity populations in a culturally appropriate 
and linguistically responsive manner; and 
(F) demonstrating a capacity and infra-
structure to provide long-term community re-
sponse that is culturally appropriate and lin-
guistically responsive to communities that dis-
proportionately experience disparities in health 
and health care. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
2006 through 2008. 
SEC. 403. DISASTER RELIEF MEDICAID. 
(a) AUTHORITY
TO PROVIDE DISASTER RELIEF 
MEDICAID.—Notwithstanding any provision of title XIX 
of the Social Security Act, a State shall, as a condition 
of participation in the Medicaid program established 
under title XIX of the Social Security (42 U.S.C. 1396 
et seq.), provide medical assistance to DRM-eligible 
Katrina Survivors (as defined in subsection (b)) under a 
State Medicaid plan established under such title during 
the disaster relief Medicaid coverage period in accordance 
with the following provisions of this section and without 
submitting an amendment to the State Medicaid plan. 
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Such assistance shall be referred to as ‘‘Disaster Relief 
Medicaid Assistance (DRM assistance)’’. 
(b) 
DRM-ELIGIBLE
KATRINA
SURVIVOR
DE-
FINED.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—In this section, the term 
‘‘DRM-eligible Katrina Survivor’’ means a Katrina 
Survivor whose family income does not exceed the 
higher of— 
(A) 100 percent (200 percent, in the case 
of such a Survivor who is a pregnant woman, 
child, or a recipient of disability benefits under 
section 223 of the Social Security Act) of the 
poverty line; or 
(B) the income eligibility standard which 
would apply to the Survivor under the State 
Medicaid plan. 
(2) NO RESOURCES, RESIDENCY, OR CATEGOR-
ICAL
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS.—Eligibility 
under paragraph (1) shall be determined without ap-
plication of any resources test, State residency, or 
categorical eligibility requirements. 
(3) INCOME DETERMINATION.— 
(A) LEAST
RESTRICTIVE
INCOME
METH-
ODOLOGIES.—The State shall use the least re-
strictive methodologies applied under the State 
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Medicaid plan under section 1902(r)(2) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(r)(2)) in 
determining income eligibility for Katrina Sur-
vivors under paragraph (1). 
(B) DISREGARD OF UNEMPLOYMENT BEN-
EFITS.—In determining such income eligibility, 
the State shall disregard any amount received 
under a law of the United States or of a State 
which is in the nature of unemployment com-
pensation by a Katrina Survivor during the 
DRM coverage period. 
(4) DEFINITION OF CHILD.—For purposes of 
paragraph (1), a DRM-eligible Katrina Survivor 
shall be determined to be a ‘‘child’’ in accordance 
with the definition of ‘‘child’’ under the State Med-
icaid plan. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION; NO CONTINU-
ATION OF DRM ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) STREAMLINED ELIGIBILITY PROCESS.—The 
State shall use the following streamlined procedures 
in processing applications and determining eligibility 
for DRM assistance for DRM-eligible Katrina Sur-
vivors: 
(A) A common 1-page application form de-
veloped by the Secretary of Health and Human 
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Services in consultation with the National Asso-
ciation of State Medicaid Directors. Such form 
shall— 
(i) require an applicant to provide an 
expected address for the duration of the 
DRM coverage period and to agree to up-
date that information if it changes during 
such period; 
(ii) include notice regarding the pen-
alties for making a fraudulent application 
under subsection (h); 
(iii) require the applicant to assign to 
the State any rights of the applicant (or 
any other person who is a DRM-eligible 
Katrina Survivor and on whose behalf the 
applicant has the legal authority to execute 
an assignment of such rights) under any 
group health plan or other third-party cov-
erage for health care; and 
(iv) require the applicant to list any 
health insurance coverage which the appli-
cant was enrolled in immediately prior to 
submitting such application. 
(B) Self-attestation by the applicant that 
the applicant— 
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(i) is a DRM-eligible Katrina Sur-
vivor; and 
(ii) if applicable, requires home and 
community-based services provided under 
such DRM assistance in accordance with 
subsection (d)(3). 
(C) No requirement for documentation evi-
dencing the basis on which the applicant quali-
fies to be a DRM-eligible Katrina Survivor or, 
if applicable, requires home and community- 
based services. 
(D) Issuance of a DRM assistance eligi-
bility card to an applicant who completes such 
application, including the self-attestation re-
quired under subparagraph (B). Such card shall 
be valid as long as the DRM coverage period is 
in effect and shall be accompanied by notice of 
the termination date for the DRM coverage pe-
riod and, if applicable, notice that such termi-
nation date may be extended. If the President 
extends the DRM coverage period, the State 
shall notify DRM-eligible Katrina Survivors en-
rolled in DRM assistance of the new termi-
nation date for the DRM coverage period. 
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(E) If an applicant completes the applica-
tion and presents it to a provider or facility 
participating in the State Medicaid plan that is 
qualified to make presumptive eligibility deter-
minations under such plan (which at a min-
imum shall consist of facilities identified in sec-
tion 1902(a)(55) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1396a(a)(55)) and it appears to the pro-
vider that the applicant is a DRM-eligible 
Katrina Survivor based on the information in 
the application, the applicant will be deemed to 
be a DRM-eligible Katrina Survivor eligible for 
DRM assistance in accordance with this section, 
subject to subsection (g). 
(F) Continuous eligibility, without the need 
for any re-determination of eligibility, for the 
duration of the DRM coverage period. 
(2) NO CONTINUATION OF DRM ASSISTANCE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraphs (B) and (C), no DRM assistance 
shall be provided after the end of the DRM cov-
erage period. 
(B) PRESUMPTIVE
ELIGIBILITY.—In the 
case of any DRM-eligible Katrina Survivor who 
is receiving DRM assistance from a State in ac-
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cordance with this section and who, as of the 
end of the DRM coverage period, has an appli-
cation pending for medical assistance under the 
State Medicaid plan for periods beginning after 
the end of such period, the State shall provide 
such Survivor with a period of presumptive eli-
gibility for medical assistance under the State 
Medicaid plan (not to exceed 60 days) until a 
determination with respect to the Survivor’s ap-
plication has been made. 
(C) PREGNANT WOMEN.—In the case of a 
DRM-eligible Katrina Survivor who is receiving 
DRM assistance from a State in accordance 
with this section and whose pregnancy ended 
during the 60-day period prior to the end of the 
DRM coverage period, or who is pregnant as of 
the end of such period, such Survivor shall con-
tinue to be eligible for DRM assistance after 
the end of the DRM coverage period, including 
(but not limited to) for all pregnancy-related 
and postpartum medical assistance available 
under the State Medicaid plan, through the end 
of the month in which the 60-day period (begin-
ning on the last day of her pregnancy) ends. 
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(3) TREATMENT OF KATRINA SURVIVORS PRO-
VIDED
ASSISTANCE
PRIOR
TO
DATE
OF
ENACT-
MENT.—Any Katrina Survivor who is provided med-
ical assistance under a State Medicaid plan in ac-
cordance with guidance from the Secretary during 
the period that begins on August 28, 2005, and ends 
on the date of enactment of this Act shall be treated 
as a DRM-eligible Katrina Survivor, without the 
need to file an additional application, for purposes of 
eligibility for DRM assistance under this section. 
(d) SCOPE OF COVERAGE.— 
(1) CATEGORICALLY
NEEDY
BENEFITS.—The 
State shall treat a DRM-eligible Katrina Survivor as 
an individual eligible for medical assistance under 
the State plan under title XIX of the Social Security 
Act on the basis of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)), 
with coverage for such assistance retroactive to 
items and services furnished on or after August 28, 
2005 (or in the case of applications for DRM assist-
ance submitted after January 1 2006, the first day 
of the 5th month preceding the date on which such 
application is submitted). 
(2) EXTENDED MENTAL HEALTH AND CARE CO-
ORDINATION
BENEFITS.—The State may provide, 
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without regard to any restrictions on amount, dura-
tion, and scope, comparability, or restrictions other-
wise applicable under the State medicaid plan (other 
than restrictions applicable under such plan with re-
spect to services provided in an institution for men-
tal diseases), to DRM-eligible Katrina Survivors ex-
tended mental health and care coordination benefits 
which may include the following: 
(A) Screening, assessment, and diagnostic 
services (including specialized assessments for 
individuals with cognitive impairments). 
(B) Coverage for a full range of mental 
health medications at the dosages and fre-
quencies prescribed by health professionals for 
depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and 
other mental disorders. 
(C) Treatment of alcohol and substance 
abuse determined to result from circumstances 
related to Hurricane Katrina. 
(D) 
Psychotherapy, 
rehabilitation 
and 
other treatments administered by psychiatrists, 
psychologists, or social workers for conditions 
exacerbated by, or resulting from, Hurricane 
Katrina. 
(E) In-patient mental health care. 
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(F) Family counseling for families where a 
member of the immediate family is a Katrina 
Survivor or first responder to Hurricane 
Katrina or includes an individual who has died 
as a result of Hurricane Katrina. 
(G) In connection with the provision of 
health and long-term care services, arranging 
for, (and when necessary, enrollment in waiver 
programs or other specialized programs), and 
coordination related to, primary and specialty 
medical care, which may include personal care 
services, durable medical equipment and sup-
plies, assistive technology, and transportation. 
(3) HOME
AND
COMMUNITY-BASED
SERV-
ICES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a State 
with a waiver to provide home and community- 
based services granted under section 1115 of 
the Social Security Act or under subsection (c) 
or (d) of section 1915 of such Act, the State 
may provide such services to DRM-eligible 
Katrina Survivors who self-attest in accordance 
with subsection (c)(1)(B)(ii) that they require 
immediate home and community-based services 
that are available under such waiver without re-
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gard to whether the Survivors would require the 
level of care provided in a hospital, nursing fa-
cility, or intermediate care facility for the men-
tally 
retarded, 
including 
to 
DRM-eligible 
Katrina Survivors who are individuals described 
in subparagraph (B). 
(B) INDIVIDUALS
DESCRIBED.—Individ-
uals described in this subparagraph are individ-
uals who— 
(i) on any day during the week pre-
ceding August 28, 2005— 
(I) had been receiving home and 
community-based services under a 
waiver described in subparagraph (A) 
in a direct impact parish or county; 
(II) had been receiving support 
services from a primary family care-
giver who, as a result of Hurricane 
Katrina, is no longer available to pro-
vide services; or 
(III) had been receiving personal 
care, home health, or rehabilitative 
services under the State Medicaid 
plan or under a waiver granted under 
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section 1915 or 1115 of the Social Se-
curity Act; or 
(ii) are disabled (as determined under 
the State Medicaid plan). 
(C) WAIVER OF RESTRICTIONS.—The Sec-
retary shall waive with respect to the provision 
of home and community-based services under 
this paragraph any limitations on— 
(i) the number of individuals who 
shall receive home or community-based 
services under a waiver described in sub-
paragraph (A); 
(ii) budget neutrality requirements ap-
plicable to such waiver; and 
(iii) targeted populations eligible for 
services under such waiver. 
The Secretary may waive other restrictions ap-
plicable under such a waiver, that would pre-
vent a State from providing home and commu-
nity-based services in accordance with this 
paragraph. 
(4) CHILDREN BORN TO PREGNANT WOMEN.— 
In the case of a child born to a DRM-eligible 
Katrina Survivor who is provided DRM assistance 
during the DRM coverage period, such child shall be 
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treated as having been born to a pregnant woman el-
igible for medical assistance under the State Med-
icaid plan and shall be eligible for medical assistance 
under such plan in accordance with section 
1902(e)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396a(e)(4)). The Federal medical assistance per-
centage applicable to the State Medicaid plan shall 
apply to medical assistance provided to a child under 
such plan in accordance with the preceding sentence. 
(e) TERMINATION OF COVERAGE; ASSISTANCE WITH 
APPLYING FOR REGULAR MEDICAID COVERAGE.— 
(1) NOTICE
OF
EXPECTED
TERMINATION
OF 
DRM
COVERAGE
PERIOD.—A State shall provide 
DRM-eligible Katrina Survivors who are receiving 
DRM assistance from the State in accordance with 
this section, as of the beginning of the 4th month 
(and, if applicable, 9th month) of the DRM coverage 
period with— 
(A) notice of the expected termination date 
for DRM assistance for such period; 
(B) information regarding eligibility for 
medical assistance under the State’s eligibility 
rules otherwise applicable under the State med-
icaid plan; and 
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(C) an application for such assistance and 
information regarding where to obtain assist-
ance with completing such application in ac-
cordance with paragraph (2). 
(2) APPLICATION ASSISTANCE.—A State shall 
provide DRM-eligible Katrina Survivors who are re-
ceiving DRM assistance from the State in accord-
ance with this section with assistance in applying for 
medical assistance under the State medicaid plan for 
periods beginning after the end of the DRM cov-
erage period, at State Medicaid offices and at loca-
tions easily accessible to such Survivors. 
(3) STATE REPORTS.—A State providing DRM 
assistance in accordance with this section shall sub-
mit to the Secretary the following reports: 
(A) TERMINATION
AND
TRANSITION
AS-
SISTANCE
TO
REGULAR
MEDICAID
COVERAGE 
FOR DRM-ELIGIBLE KATRINA SURVIVORS ELIGI-
BLE FOR SUCH ASSISTANCE.—A report detail-
ing how the State intends to satisfy the require-
ments of paragraphs (1) and (2). 
(B) ENROLLMENT.—Reports regarding— 
(i) the number of Katrina Survivors 
who are determined to be DRM-eligible 
Katrina Survivors; and 
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(ii) the number of DRM-eligible 
Katrina Survivors who are determined to 
be eligible for, and enrolled in, the State 
Medicaid plan. 
(4) SECRETARIAL OVERSIGHT.—The Secretary 
of Health and Human Services shall ensure that a 
State is complying with the requirements of para-
graphs (1) and (2) and that applications for medical 
assistance under the State Medicaid plan from 
DRM-eligible Katrina Survivors for periods begin-
ning after the end of the DRM coverage period are 
processed in a timely and appropriate manner. 
(5) NO PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION AGAINST A 
STATE FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE NOTICE.—No pri-
vate right of action shall be brought against a State 
for failure to provide the notices required under 
paragraph (1) or subsection (c)(1) so long as the 
State makes a good faith effort to provide such no-
tices. 
(f) 100 PERCENT
FEDERAL
MATCHING
PAY-
MENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 
1905(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396d(b), the Federal medical assistance percentage 
or the Federal matching rate otherwise applied 
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ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
under section 1903(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396b(a)) shall be 100 percent for— 
(A) providing DRM assistance to DRM-eli-
gible Katrina Survivors during the DRM cov-
erage period in accordance with this section; 
(B) costs directly attributable to adminis-
trative activities related to the provision of such 
DRM assistance, including costs attributable to 
obtaining recoveries under subsection (h); 
(C) costs directly attributable to providing 
application assistance in accordance with sub-
section (e)(2); and 
(D) DRM assistance provided in accord-
ance with subparagraph (B) or (C) of sub-
section (c)(2) after the end of the DRM cov-
erage period. 
(2) DISREGARD OF PAYMENTS.—Payments pro-
vided to a State in accordance with this subsection 
shall be disregarded for purposes of applying sub-
sections (f) and (g) of section 1108 of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1308). 
(g) VERIFICATION OF STATUS AS A KATRINA SUR-
VIVOR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The State shall make a good 
faith effort to verify the status of an individual who 
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is enrolled in the State Medicaid plan as a DRM-eli-
gible Katrina Survivor under the provisions of this 
section. Such effort shall not delay the determina-
tion of the eligibility of the Survivor for DRM assist-
ance under this section. 
(2) EVIDENCE OF VERIFICATION.—A State may 
satisfy the verification requirement under subpara-
graph (A) with respect to an individual by showing 
that the State providing DRM assistance obtained 
information from the Social Security Administration, 
the Internal Revenue Service, or the State Medicaid 
Agency for the State from which individual is from 
(if the individual was not a resident of such State 
on any day during the week preceding August 28, 
2005). 
(h) PENALTY FOR FRAUDULENT APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) INDIVIDUAL
LIABLE
FOR
COSTS.—If a 
State, as the result of verification activities con-
ducted under subsection (g) or otherwise, determines 
after a fair hearing that an individual has knowingly 
made a false self-attestation described in subsection 
(c)(1)(B), the State may, subject to paragraph (2), 
seek recovery from the individual for the full amount 
of the cost of DRM assistance provided to the indi-
vidual under this section. 
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(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary shall exempt a 
State from seeking recovery under paragraph (1) if 
the Secretary determines that it would not be cost- 
effective for the State to do so. 
(3) REIMBURSEMENT TO THE FEDERAL GOV-
ERNMENT.—Any amounts recovered by a State in 
accordance with this subsection shall be returned to 
the Federal government. 
(i) EXEMPTION FROM ERROR RATE PENALTIES.— 
All payments attributable to providing DRM assistance in 
accordance with this section shall be disregarded for pur-
poses of section 1903(u) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1396b(u)). 
(j) PROVIDER PAYMENT RATES.—In the case of any 
DRM assistance provided in accordance with this section 
to a DRM-eligible Katrina Survivor that is covered under 
the State Medicaid plan (as applied without regard to this 
section) the State shall pay a provider of such assistance 
the same payment rate as the State would otherwise pay 
for the assistance if the assistance were provided under 
the State Medicaid plan (or, if no such payment rate ap-
plies under the State Medicaid plan, the usual and cus-
tomary prevailing rate for the item or service for the com-
munity in which it is provided). 
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(k) APPLICATION TO INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR 
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as affecting any rights accorded to an individual 
who is a recipient of medical assistance under a State 
Medicaid plan who is determined to be a DRM-eligible 
Katrina Survivor but the provision of DRM assistance to 
such individual shall be limited to the provision of such 
assistance in accordance with this section. 
(l) DEFINITIONS.— 
(1) DRM COVERAGE PERIOD.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘DRM cov-
erage period’’ means the period beginning on 
August 28, 2005, and, subject to subparagraph 
(B), ending on the date that is 12 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
(B) PRESIDENTIAL
AUTHORITY
TO
EX-
TEND DRM COVERAGE PERIOD.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The President may 
extend the DRM coverage period for an 
additional 12 months. Any reference to the 
term ‘‘DRM coverage period’’ in this title 
shall include any extension under this 
clause. 
(ii) 
NOTICE
TO
CONGRESS
AND 
STATES.—The President shall notify the 
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majority and minority leaders of the Sen-
ate, the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the minority leader of the 
House of Representatives, the Chairs and 
Ranking Members of the Committee on Fi-
nance of the Senate and the Committees 
on Energy and Commerce and Ways and 
Means of the House of Representatives, 
and the States at least 30 days prior to— 
(I) extending the DRM coverage 
period; or 
(II) if the President determines 
not to extend such period, the ending 
date described in subparagraph (A). 
(2) POVERTY LINE.—The term ‘‘poverty line’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 
2110(c)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1397jj(c)(5)). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
Æ 
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