Territorial Equity Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-2713
Sponsor: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
Introduced: 2021-04-20 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: American Samoa
Appropriations
Caribbean area
Child health
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Food assistance and relief
Government information and archives
Guam
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Hospital care
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Labor standards
Medicaid
Medicare
Northern Mariana Islands
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance
Prescription drugs
Puerto Rico
Retail and wholesale trades
State and local finance
State and local government operations
U.S. territories and protectorates
Virgin Islands
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-20
text: 

Territorial Equity Act of
 
2021

 
This bill alters provisions relating to the treatment of U.S. territories under Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, and other federal assistance programs. 
 
The bill modifies provisions under several health care programs with respect to U.S. territories. Among other changes, the bill
 
 
eliminates Medicaid funding limitations for U.S. territories beginning in FY2022, 
 
repeals provisions that exclude residents of Puerto Rico from a certain automatic enrollment process for Medicare medical services, 
 
establishes minimum criteria for certain elements used in Medicare Advantage payment calculations for areas within U.S. territories, and 
 
allows residents of U.S. territories who are unable to obtain health insurance through their employer or a health insurance exchange to instead obtain coverage that is at least as broad as the coverage available to Members of Congress and their staff through the District of Columbia exchange. 

 
The bill also modifies provisions under other federal assistance programs. Among other changes, the bill
 
 
allows Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program);
 
makes residents of Puerto Rico eligible for the federal earned income tax credit; and
 
extends the SSI program to Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-06-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2021-04-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, Education and Labor, and Natural Resources, 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: 2021-04-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, Education and Labor, and Natural Resources, 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: 2021-04-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, Education and Labor, and Natural Resources, 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: 2021-04-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, Education and Labor, and Natural Resources, 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: 2021-04-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, Education and Labor, and Natural Resources, 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: 2021-04-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-20
text: Introduced in House