I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 705 
To amend titles XI and XIX of the Social Security Act to promote program 
integrity with respect to the enrollment of certain immigrants in State 
plans under Medicaid, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 27, 2017 
Mr. FLORES (for himself, Mr. MULLIN, Mr. GUTHRIE, and Mr. COLLINS of 
New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend titles XI and XIX of the Social Security Act 
to promote program integrity with respect to the enroll-
ment of certain immigrants in State plans under Med-
icaid, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Verify Eligibility Cov-
erage Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PROMOTING PROGRAM INTEGRITY IN ENROLLING 
CERTAIN IMMIGRANTS UNDER MEDICAID. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1137(f) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–7(f)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Subsections (a)(1) and (d)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(1) Subsections (a)(1) and (d)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2)(A) Subparagraphs (A) and (B)(ii) of sub-
section (d)(4) shall not apply in the case of an initial 
determination made on or after the date that is 6 
months after the date of the enactment of this para-
graph with respect to the eligibility of an alien de-
scribed in subparagraph (B) for benefits under the 
program listed in subsection (b)(2). 
‘‘(B) An alien described in this subparagraph is 
an individual declaring to be a citizen or national of 
the United States with respect to whom a State, in 
accordance with section 1902(a)(46)(B), requires— 
‘‘(i) pursuant to section 1902(ee), the sub-
mission of a social security number; or 
‘‘(ii) pursuant to section 1903(x), the pres-
entation of satisfactory documentary evidence of 
citizenship or nationality.’’. 
(b) NO PAYMENTS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PRO-
VIDED BEFORE PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE.—Section 
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1903(i)(22) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396b(i)(22)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘with respect to amounts ex-
pended’’ and inserting ‘‘(A) with respect to amounts 
expended’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(B) in the case of a State that elects to pro-
vide a reasonable period to present satisfactory doc-
umentary evidence of such citizenship or nationality 
pursuant to paragraph (2)(C) of section 1902(ee) or 
paragraph (4) of subsection (x) of this section, for 
amounts expended for medical assistance for such an 
individual (other than an individual described in 
paragraph (2) of such subsection (x)) during such 
period;’’. 
(c) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section 
1137(d)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b– 
7(d)(4)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), in the matter pre-
ceding clause (i), by inserting ‘‘subject to subsection 
(f)(2),’’ before ‘‘the State’’; and 
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(2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting ‘‘sub-
ject to subsection (f)(2),’’ before ‘‘pending such 
verification’’. 
SEC. 3. MEDICAID IMPROVEMENT FUND. 
Section 1941 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396w–1(b)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1941. MEDICAID IMPROVEMENT FUND. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish, 
and administer, under this title a Medicaid Improvement 
Fund (in this section referred to as the ‘Fund’) which 
shall be available to the Secretary for the following pur-
poses: 
‘‘(1) To improve the management of the Med-
icaid program by the Centers for Medicare & Med-
icaid Services, including oversight of contracts and 
contractors 
and 
evaluation 
of 
demonstration 
projects. 
‘‘(2) To improve access to care for the most 
vulnerable individuals eligible to receive medical as-
sistance under the State plan under this title (or a 
waiver of such plan), including by carrying out sec-
tion 4 of the Verify Eligibility Coverage Act (relating 
to reducing waiting lists for medical assistance for 
home and community-based services under a State 
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plan waiver under subsection (c), (d), or (i) of sec-
tion 1915 or section 1115). 
‘‘(b) SUPPLEMENT, NOT
SUPPLANT.—Payments 
made for activities under this section shall be in addition 
to payments that would otherwise be made for activities 
described in subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) 
MANAGEMENT
IMPROVEMENTS.— 
There shall be available to the Fund, for the 
purposes described in subsection (a)(1), for ex-
penditures from the Fund for fiscal year 2021 
and thereafter, $5,000,000. 
‘‘(B) INCREASING ACCESS.—There shall be 
available to the Fund, for the purposes de-
scribed in subsection (a)(2), for expenditures 
from the Fund for fiscal year 2018 and there-
after, ø$lllll¿. 
‘‘(2) FUNDING LIMITATION.—Amounts in the 
Fund shall be available in advance of appropriations 
but only if the total amount obligated from the 
Fund does not exceed the amount available to the 
Fund under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of para-
graph (1). The Secretary may obligate funds from 
the Fund only if the Secretary determines (and the 
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Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Med-
icaid Services and the appropriate budget officer cer-
tify) that there are available in the Fund sufficient 
amounts to cover all such obligations incurred con-
sistent with the previous sentence.’’. 
SEC. 4. PROVIDING CARE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE PA-
TIENTS ON WAITING LISTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (d), the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services shall provide, for 
each of fiscal years 2018 through 2026, payment to eligi-
ble States selected under subsection (c) to provide for 
medical assistance for home and community-based services 
under a State plan waiver under subsection (c), (d), or 
(i) of section 1915 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396n) or section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1315) to individuals who are eligible but, as of 
January 1, 2017, are on a waiting list for such services 
through such waiver. 
(b) STATE ELIGIBILITY.—A State is eligible for a 
payment under this section if the State submits an appli-
cation to the Secretary at such time, in such form and 
manner, and containing such information, provisions, and 
assurances, as specified by the Secretary. 
(c) SELECTION.—Subject to subsection (d), the Sec-
retary shall, for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2026, 
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