Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act of 2018

Bill: 115-hr-6601
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5]
Introduced: 2018-07-26
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Government studies and investigations

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Health care quality

Health programs administration and funding

Health promotion and preventive care

Medicaid

Medicare

Minority health

Rural conditions and development

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2018-08-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-07-26
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act of 2018</b></p> <p>This bill specifies that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation may consider, when selecting innovative payment and service delivery models to test, the effect of such models on certain patient populations (e.g., high risk) and on minority and rural health disparities.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6601 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 26, 2018 Mr. Lewis of Georgia (for himself and Mr. Levin ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means , 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 A BILL To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to improve access to care for all Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries through models tested under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act of 2018 . 2. Improving access to care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries Section 1115A of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1315a ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(3), by inserting , the causes of health disparities and social determinants of health, after medicine ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting , as well as improving access to care received by individuals receiving benefits under such title, after title ; (B) in paragraph (2)(C), by adding at the end the following new clauses: (ix) Whether the model will discourage providers of services and supplies from treating high risk patients, patients from minority or rural communities, or women. (x) Whether the model demonstrates reductions in minority and rural health disparities. ; and (C) in paragraph (4)(A)— (i) in clause (i) at the end, by striking and ; (ii) in clause (ii), at the end, by striking the period and inserting ; and ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) the extent to which the model improves access to care or the extent to which the model discourages providers from caring for high risk patients, women, patients from racial or ethnic minorities, or patients from rural communities. ; (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking at the end and ; (B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph: (3) the Office of Minority Health of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services certifies that such expansion will not reduce access to care for women, low-income, minority, or rural beneficiaries; and ; (D) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by inserting before the period at the end the following: nor increase health disparities experienced by women, low-income, minority, or rural beneficiaries ; and (E) in the matter following paragraph (4), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by inserting , improve access to care, after care . 3. Understanding social determinants of health in Medicare and Medicaid populations The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, for each fiscal year (beginning not later than fiscal year 2019), submit to Congress an annual report that analyzes the following: (1) The extent and severity of minority and rural health disparities in Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. (2) The prevalence of interventions that address social determinants of health in payment models selected by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation for testing. (3) The prevalence of interventions that address social determinants of health in payment models not selected by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation for testing. (4) The effectiveness of payment models selected by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation for testing in mitigating negative health outcomes associated with social determinants of health. (5) Changes in the prevalence of minority health disparities and rural health disparities in Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries served by providers participating in payment models that were expanded by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. (6) In consultation with the Comptroller General of the United States, estimated Federal savings achieved through the reduction of rural and minority health disparities. (7) Other areas determined appropriate by the Secretary.