Transition to Independence Act

Bill: 114-s-1604
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2015-06-18
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Adult day care

Disability and paralysis

Employment and training programs

Home and outpatient care

Medicaid

Performance measurement

Wages and earnings
Latest action: action_date: 2015-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-06-18
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Transition to Independence Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a demonstration program over five fiscal years, beginning with FY2017, under which a Medicaid Buy-In State meeting certain criteria may receive bonus payments for:</p> <ul> <li>meeting specific measurable benchmarks in expanding individual integrated employment and reducing subminimum wage work, congregate setting work, or facility-based day habilitation placements for working-age individuals with a disability receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services; and</li> <li>taking other actions conducive to expanding employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities within the state.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1604 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 18, 2015 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Wyden , and Mr. Casey ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To establish the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option demonstration program.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transition to Independence Act . 2. Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option Demonstration Program (a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a demonstration program under which a State that is a Medicaid Buy-In State and meets certain criteria may receive bonus payments for meeting specific measurable benchmarks in expanding individual integrated employment and reducing subminimum wage work, congregate setting work, or facility-based day habilitation placements for working-age individuals with a disability receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services and for taking other actions conducive to expanding employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities within the State. (b) Requirements for the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option (1) Minimum standards The Secretary shall establish minimum standards for Medicaid Buy-In States participating in the demonstration program to comply with in establishing eligibility requirements for individual participants, benefits, and administrative requirements for the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option offered under the demonstration program. (2) Eligibility requirements for individual participants The minimum standards shall require a Medicaid Buy-In State participating in the demonstration program to— (A) establish an assets or resources test for participation by an individual in the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option that is not less than $20,000; (B) establish an income requirement for participation by an individual in the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option that is at least up to 400 percent of the poverty line; and (C) establish such other requirements for an individual's participation in the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option as the Secretary shall specify. (3) Work incentives coordinator The minimum standards shall require a Medicaid Buy-In State participating in the demonstration program to provide work incentives coordinators who have been trained as work incentive specialists under a community-based work incentives planning and assistance program established under section 1149 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–20 ) to assist the individuals who elect to participate in the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option in order to ensure the individuals are provided with appropriate items and services. (4) Voluntary participation The minimum standards shall require a Medicaid Buy-In State participating in the demonstration program to allow an individual's participation in the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option to be voluntary and to not preclude an individual who elects to participate in the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option from also electing to enroll in a qualified health plan offered through an American Health Benefit Exchange and— (A) being deemed to be an applicable taxpayer for purposes of section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c)(1)(A) of such section; (B) being deemed to be an eligible insured for purposes of section 1402 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18071 ), notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b)(2) of such section; and (C) not being subject to the enrollment provisions of section 1413 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18083 ) with respect to the State involved. (c) Application and selection requirements (1) In general Not later than June 30, 2016, the Secretary shall solicit applications from Medicaid Buy-In States and select 10 Medicaid Buy-In States to participate in the demonstration program. (2) Application requirements An application to participate in the demonstration program shall include the following: (A) Data and information regarding the numbers of working-age individuals with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services in the Medicaid Buy-In State who are in individual integrated employment, subminimum wage work, congregate setting work, or facility-based day habilitation or day treatment, respectively. (B) Data and information verifying that the Medicaid Buy-In State is prepared to meet the minimum standards established by the Secretary for the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option. (C) A plan for promoting the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option to potentially eligible individuals that includes— (i) clear and easy-to-understand, multi-media information on how to enroll in the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option on the websites for the Medicaid Buy-In State's Medicaid and Disability Determination Services Agencies; and (ii) a no-wrong door policy under which individuals who apply for a determination of eligibility for the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option are also determined if they are eligible for an applicable State health subsidy program in accordance with section 1413 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18083 ) (including the State Medicaid program under another eligibility pathway), informed of the results of such determinations and, depending on their eligibility, provided with the option to voluntarily elect to participate in the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option or an applicable State health subsidy program. (D) Verification that the Medicaid Buy-In State will use independent contractors to determine whether an individual who is potentially eligible to participate in the demonstration program but who is not receiving disability insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 401 et seq. ) or supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq. ) is determined to be eligible for such benefits within 90 days of applying to participate in the demonstration program and treated as if the individual were receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services solely for purposes of participating in the demonstration program. (E) Verification that the Medicaid Buy-In State shall establish a Stakeholder Advisory Committee that meets the requirements of paragraph (3) and shall consult with and consider recommendations of the Committee while conducting the demonstration program. (F) Such other information as the Secretary may require relating to the demonstration program. (3) Stakeholder Advisory Committee requirements (A) Membership In establishing the Stakeholder Advisory Committee required for the demonstration program, the Medicaid Buy-In State shall ensure that— (i) at least 50 percent of the members of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee are individuals with disabilities; and (ii) at least 1 member of the Committee is a provider of services to individuals with disabilities. (B) Duties The Stakeholder Advisory Committee shall— (i) analyze outcomes data and other information related to the conduct of the demonstration program; and (ii) regularly submit recommendations, including for specific actions by the Medicaid Buy-In State participating in the demonstration program, that the Committee determines appropriate with respect to the conduct of the demonstration by the State. (d) Requirement for selecting States In selecting Medicaid Buy-In States to participate in the demonstration program, the Secretary shall ensure that the Medicaid Buy-In States selected include Medicaid Buy-In States with low, medium, and high numbers of working-age individuals with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services and are in individual integrated employment, subminimum wage work, congregate setting work, or facility-based day habilitation or day treatment, respectively. (e) Length of demonstration program The demonstration program shall be conducted for a period of 5 fiscal years, beginning with fiscal year 2017. (f) Performance bonus payments (1) In general For each year in which the demonstration program is conducted, a Medicaid Buy-In State participating in the demonstration program during that year may qualify for a performance bonus payment. (2) State-specified criteria and performance plans In order to participate in the demonstration program, a Medicaid Buy-In State shall submit criteria and a plan for achieving each of the mandatory benchmarks described in paragraph (3) and each of the additional benchmarks described in paragraph (4). The Secretary shall establish a methodology for assessing State performance with respect to the State-specified criteria for the mandatory and additional benchmarks. (3) Mandatory benchmarks The mandatory benchmarks described in this paragraph are the following: (A) Reduced participation in segregated programs and increased participation in individual integrated employment (i) Reduced population census of segregated programs (I) In general Achieving a reduction in the population in the State of working-age individuals with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services or who are receiving services through an Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (ICF–DD), a nursing facility, an institution for individuals with mental illness, or other congregate facilities and are in subminimum wage work, congregate setting work, or facility-based day habilitation or day treatment. (II) Minimum percent reductions; bonus based on achievement of differing tiers In order to receive a bonus payment for a year under this clause, a Medicaid Buy-In State shall achieve a reduction of the population described in subclause (I) of at least 10 percent below the State's most recent prior year's census of the eligible population in subminimum wage work, congregate setting work, or facility based day habilitation or day treatment. Subject to paragraph (5)(B), the Secretary shall award an increased bonus payment for a year to a Medicaid Buy-In State that achieves a percentage reduction of 20, 30, 40 or more with respect to the prior year's census of such population. (III) Rule of construction A working-age individual with a disability shall be deemed as counting towards a percentage reduction for purposes of this clause if the individual is employed in an integrated individual employment setting for at least 10 hours a week on average over a 120-day period during the year involved or is receiving integrated day services supported by the State. (ii) Increased population census of individual integrated employment (I) In general Achieving an increase in the population in the State of working-age individuals with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services and are in individual integrated employment. (II) Minimum percent increases; bonus based on achievement of certain tiers In order to receive a bonus payment for a year under this clause, a Medicaid Buy-In State shall achieve an increase in the population described in subclause (I) of at least 10 percent above the State's most recent prior year's census of the eligible population in individual integrated employment. Subject to paragraph (5)(B), the Secretary shall award an increased bonus payment for a year to a Medicaid Buy-In State that achieves a percentage increase of 20, 30, 40 or more with respect to the prior year's census of such population. (III) Rule of construction A working-age individual with a disability shall be deemed as counting towards a percentage increase for purposes of this clause if the individual is employed in an integrated individual employment setting for at least 10 hours a week on average over a 120-day period during the year involved. (B) Meeting the Transition to Independence Medicaid buy-in standards Meeting the minimum standards established by the Secretary for the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option. (4) Additional benchmarks The additional benchmarks described in this paragraph are the following: (A) Elimination of new placement approvals Eliminating new approvals for placement in the State of working-age individuals with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services in subminimum wage work, congregate setting work, or facility-based day habilitation or day treatment, in accordance with criteria established by the Secretary. (B) Demonstration of inter-agency collaboration Demonstrating inter-agency collaboration between the State agencies responsible for administering Medicaid, vocational rehabilitation, and education (and, if the State is participating the Promoting Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income initiative (PROMISE), including coordination with that initiative), in determining payer of last resort rules and rules for providing individuals with a seamless transition of services provided under such agencies, in accordance with criteria established by the Secretary. (C) Termination of vocational rehabilitation funding Ending vocational rehabilitation funding for subminimum wage work, congregate setting work, or facility-based day habilitation or day treatment, in accordance with criteria established by the Secretary. (D) Workforce development Demonstrating in accordance with criteria established by the Secretary satisfaction of at least 2 of the following strategies to promote workforce development: (i) Increasing Medicaid payments for supported employment providers for individuals with disabilities by an amount necessary to ensure an adequately supported employment network, as determined by the Secretary. (ii) Adopting employment strategies that result in working-age individuals with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services being recruited, hired, and retained as full-time employees of State government or by contractors or State government. (iii) Developing a State equivalent of section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 793 ) to recruit, hire, promote, and retain working-age individuals with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services with a utilization goal of at least 7 percent of the State government workforce. (iv) Developing a special hiring authority mechanism akin to the Schedule A appointing authority under section 213.3102(u) of title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations (commonly referred to as the Schedule A Hiring Authority ) to assist in easing the hiring of working-age individuals with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services within the State government with an accompanying plan submitted to the Secretary outlining targeted implementation goals for the amount of individuals with disabilities within State government. (v) Increasing the hiring of working-age individuals with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services in employment for which the individual is compensated at or above the minimum wage, through collaboration with the State vocational rehabilitation and workforce development programs and Federal contractors. (vi) Providing State tax credits to employers for hiring new workers who are working-age individuals with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services. (5) Payment to states (A) In general Subject to the succeeding provisions of this paragraph, the Secretary shall make a performance bonus payment to each Medicaid Buy-In State participating in the demonstration program that qualifies for such a payment with respect to a fiscal year as a single payment not later than the last day of the first calendar quarter of the fiscal year following the fiscal year to which the performance bonus payments applies. Payments to States made under this paragraph shall be considered to have been made under, and are subject to the requirements of, section 1903 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396b ). (B) Determination of payment The performance bonus payment for a Medicaid Buy-In State shall consist of the additional amount that the State would have been paid for providing medical assistance to individuals enrolled in the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option during the preceding fiscal year if the regular FMAP applicable to such assistance were increased (subject to subparagraph (C)) as follows: (i) 2 percentage points for achieving the minimum 10 percent reduction in the mandatory benchmark described in paragraph (3)(A) during the preceding fiscal year (or 2.4 percentage points for achieving a reduction of at least 20, but not more than 30 percent, 2.6 percentage points for achieving a reduction of at least 30, but not more than 40 percent, and 2.8 percentage points for achieving a reduction of at least 40 percent). (ii) 2 percentage points for achieving the minimum 10 percent increase in the mandatory benchmark described in paragraph (3)(B) during the preceding fiscal year (or 2.4 percentage points for achieving an increase of at least 20, but not more than 30 percent, 2.6 percentage points for achieving an increase of at least 30, but not more than 40 percent, and 2.8 percentage points for achieving an increase of at least 40 percent). (iii) 0.5 percentage points for each additional benchmark described in paragraph (4) that the State achieves during the preceding fiscal year. (C) Limitations In no case may— (i) the increase in the regular FMAP resulting from the application of subparagraph (B) for any Medicaid Buy-In State exceed 100 percent of the costs for providing medical assistance to individuals enrolled in the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option with respect to each fiscal year of the 5-year period in which the demonstration project is conducted; or (ii) payments be made to a Medicaid Buy-In State under this paragraph after December 31, 2021. (D) Use of payments A Medicaid Buy-In State receiving a performance bonus payment under this paragraph shall use the payment only to expand individual integrated employment and community integration for working-age individuals with disabilities who are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services. (g) Reports; recommendations (1) State reports (A) Periodic reports Each Medicaid Buy-In State participating in the demonstration program shall submit reports to the Secretary regarding the State's conduct of the demonstration program, at such time and in such manner, as the Secretary shall require. Such reports shall include, in addition to data and information regarding State performance with respect the mandatory and additional benchmarks described in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (f) and such other information as the Secretary may require, data and information regarding the extent to which, since the start of the demonstration program— (i) the State has reduced the State population of individuals with disabilities who have attained age 18 but have not attained age 31, are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services or services through an Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (ICF–DD), a nursing facility, an institution for individuals with mental illness, or other congregate facilities, and were in subminimum wage work, congregate setting work, or facility-based day habilitation or day treatment; and (ii) the State has increased the State population of individuals with disabilities who have attained age 18 but have not attained age 31, are receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services, and are engaged in individual integrated employment. (B) Annual report (i) In general Each Medicaid Buy-In State participating in the demonstration program annually shall submit a detailed report to the Secretary regarding the State's efforts to transition individuals with disabilities who are participating in the demonstration program to individual integrated employment during the preceding year. Each annual report shall specify the full spectrum of employment outcomes for such individuals, best practices for successfully achieving such transitions, and lessons learned. (ii) Dissemination to all participating and non-participating States The Secretary shall disseminate the annual reports submitted under clause (i) by Medicaid Buy-In States participating in the demonstration program to all States. (2) Reports and recommendations to Congress (A) In general Not later than January 1, 2017, and January 1 of each of the 6 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the demonstration program. Each such report shall include data and information regarding State performance with respect to each of the mandatory and additional benchmarks described in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (f) and other data and information reported by States under paragraph (1) and an assessment of the extent to which the demonstration program is successful in transitioning working-age individuals with disabilities to independent living and work in their communities. (B) Recommendations Not later than December 31, 2019, the Secretary shall submit to Congress recommendations regarding whether the demonstration program should be continued, expanded, modified, or terminated. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) Congregate setting work The term congregate setting work means a nonprofit, for-profit, or State agency entity that employs a majority of individuals with disabilities and receives Medicaid or other State funds for the purpose of providing employment services, or a facility or sub-unit of any such agency that meets such criteria. (2) Demonstration program The term demonstration program means the Transition to Independence Medicaid Buy-In Option Demonstration Program established under this section. (3) Facility-based day habilitation or day treatment The term facility-based day habilitation or day treatment has the meaning established by the Secretary for that term for purposes of the demonstration program and shall include non-residential day services which take place predominantly or in large part at a single site, fixed site, or center-based program for individuals with disabilities. In establishing the meaning of such term, the Secretary shall provide clear instructions distinguishing facility-based day habilitation or day treatment from integrated day habilitation or day treatment programs taking place in settings within the broader community and which do not isolate individuals participating in such integrated day habilitation or day treatment programs from mainstream life. (4) Individual integrated employment (A) In general The term individual integrated employment means the ongoing supports to an individual who, because of the individual's disabilities, needs intensive on-going supports to obtain and maintain an individual job in competitive or customized employment, self-employment, or in an integrated working setting in the general workforce for which the individual is compensated at or above the minimum wage, but not less than the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for the same or similar work performed by an individual without a disability. (B) Customized employment services included Such term includes customized employment services in which an individual receives support to craft a job description around their strengths and challenges. (C) Exclusions Such term does not include enclaves, mobile work crews, or other settings in which the location and nature of employment is determined by the individual’s disability. (5) Integrated day services The term integrated day services means services integrated in and supporting the full access of individuals with disabilities to the greater community to the same degree as individuals not receiving services that are provided consistent with all of the following: (A) No overall facility or program schedule for the individuals receiving such services. (B) Each individual receiving such services has a unique schedule reflecting the individual's interests and goals. (C) Activities take place on an individual basis or in small groups of individuals who choose to be served together. (D) The majority of time spent receiving such services takes place within the broader community rather than within a single-site, fixed site, or center-based program for individuals with disabilities, regardless of the program size. (E) The services are provided consistent with the requirements of section 441.710 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations. (6) Medicaid The term Medicaid means the program for medical assistance established under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ). (7) Medicaid Buy-In State The term Medicaid Buy-In State means a State that, under subclause (XIII), (XV), or (XVI) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii) ), a waiver approved under section 1115 or 1915 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1315 , 1396n), or other authority, has a program under which individuals with disabilities with earnings and assets that would otherwise make them ineligible for medical assistance under the State's Medicaid program are able to maintain their eligibility for such assistance. (8) Nursing facility The term nursing facility has the meaning given that term in section 1919(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396r(a) ). (9) 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) ). (10) Regular FMAP The term regular FMAP means the Federal medical assistance percentage applicable to the State (as determined under section 1905(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396d(b) )) without regard to any increases in that percentage applicable under subsections (y), (z), (aa), or (dd) of section 1905 of such Act or under any other provision of law. (11) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (12) Subminimum wage work The term subminimum wage work means any setting in which individuals with disabilities are paid less than minimum wage under a certificate issued in accordance with section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 214(c) ). (13) Supported employment The term supported employment has the meaning given that term in section 7 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 705 ). (14) State The term State has the meaning given such term for purposes of title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ). (15) Title ii disability beneficiary The term title II disability beneficiary means an individual entitled to disability insurance benefits under section 223 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 423 ) or to monthly insurance benefits under section 202 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 402 ) based on such individual's disability (as defined in section 223(d) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 423(d) )). (16) Title xvi disability beneficiary The term title XVI disability beneficiary means an individual eligible for supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq. ) on the basis of blindness (within the meaning of section 1614(a)(2) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382c(a)(2) )) or disability (within the meaning of section 1614(a)(3) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1382c(a)(3) )). (17) Working-age individual with a disability receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services The term working-age individual with a disability receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services means a title II disability beneficiary or a title XVI disability beneficiary who has attained age 18, but has not attained age 65, and is receiving home or community-based services— (A) under a waiver approved under subsection (c) or (d) of section 1915 the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396n ); (B) under the State Medicaid plan in accordance with subsection (i), (j), or (k) of such section; or (C) under a Medicaid waiver approved under section 1115 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1315 ).