SNAP Standard Medical Expense Deduction Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-3749
Sponsor: Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]
Introduced: 2017-09-12 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Aging
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Food assistance and relief
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Inflation and prices
Medicare
Performance measurement
Prescription drugs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-12
text: 

SNAP Standard Medical Expense Deduction Act of 2017 

 
This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow households containing an elderly or disabled member to use a standard medical expense deduction for calculating income to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) benefits.
 
If the amount of actual costs of allowable medical expenses incurred by the elderly or disabled member for a month, exclusive of special diets, is equal to or greater than $35, the standard medical deduction for each month is: (1) $140 for FY2018, and (2) the preceding year's amount with a specified adjustment for inflation for FY2019 and each subsequent year. If the monthly costs are greater than the sum of the standard medical deduction and $35, the household may deduct the actual costs. 
 
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) may approve a standard medical deduction that is higher than the amount required by this bill. 
 
USDA must submit specified studies and reports to Congress regarding: (1) state performance in enrolling disabled and elderly individuals in SNAP and specified Medicare programs, (2) disability and food insecurity, and (3) the effectiveness of the standard medical deduction. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-10-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.
action_date: 2017-09-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-09-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-09-12
text: Introduced in House