Medicare Crisis Program Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-6674
Sponsor: Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
Introduced: 2020-05-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: American Samoa
Appropriations
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Caribbean area
Child health
Congressional oversight
Drug therapy
Economic performance and conditions
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Guam
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health technology, devices, supplies
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Marriage and family status
Medicaid
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Northern Mariana Islands
Public contracts and procurement
Puerto Rico
State and local finance
U.S. territories and protectorates
Unemployment
Virgin Islands

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-01
text: 

Medicare Crisis Program Act of 2020

 
This bill makes a series of changes to health insurance coverage and requirements during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
 
For example, the bill makes several changes to Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) during the public health emergency. Among other things, the bill
 
 
allows all individuals who receive unemployment benefits, and their dependents, to enroll in Medicare if they otherwise do not have health insurance coverage; 
 
eliminates cost-sharing for COVID-19 drugs and treatment services under Medicare and MA; 
 
eliminates premiums under Medicare and caps overall cost-sharing under Medicare and MA; and 
 
establishes a national clearinghouse for the purchase and distribution of COVID-19 personal protective equipment for Medicare providers. 

 
The bill also alters requirements under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and for private health insurers during the emergency. Among other things, the bill
 
 
requires coverage of COVID-19 vaccines and treatment services under Medicaid and CHIP without cost-sharing; 
 
increases the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) that is otherwise applicable during the public health emergency, including for states experiencing economic downturns (i.e., high unemployment); 
 
requires private health insurers to cover COVID-19 treatment services without cost-sharing; and 
 
requires federal payment to health care providers for the cost of COVID-19 treatment services that are provided to uninsured individuals, based on Medicare payment rates. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Armed Services, 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: 2020-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Armed Services, 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: 2020-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Armed Services, 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: 2020-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Armed Services, 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: 2020-05-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-05-01
text: Introduced in House