Stronger Medicaid Response to the COVID–19 Pandemic Act

Bill: 116-hr-6616
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29]
Introduced: 2020-04-24
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health care coverage and access

Immunology and vaccination

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Medicaid
Latest action: action_date: 2020-04-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-04-24
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Stronger Medicaid Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Act</b></p> <p>This bill allows COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) vaccines and treatment, as well as treatment for conditions that may complicate COVID-19 treatment, for uninsured individuals to be covered under Medicaid during the public health emergency. (Currently, state Medicaid programs have the option to cover COVID-19 testing for uninsured individuals.)</p> <p>The bill also specifically allows COVID-19 testing, vaccines, and treatment, as well as treatment for complicating conditions, for certain unlawful aliens to be covered under Medicaid during the public health emergency.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6616 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 24, 2020 Mr. Cárdenas (for himself and Ms. Sánchez ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to allow States to provide coverage under the Medicaid program for vaccines and treatment for COVID–19 for uninsured individuals without the imposition of cost sharing requirements, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stronger Medicaid Response to the COVID–19 Pandemic Act . 2. Optional coverage at no cost sharing of COVID–19 treatment and vaccines under Medicaid for uninsured individuals (a) In general Section 1902(a)(10) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10) ) is amended, in the matter following subparagraph (G), by striking and any visit described in section 1916(a)(2)(G) and inserting the following: , any COVID–19 vaccine that is administered during any such portion (and the administration of such vaccine), any item or service that is furnished during any such portion for the treatment of COVID–19 or a condition that may complicate the treatment of COVID–19, and any services described in section 1916(a)(2)(G) . (b) Definition of uninsured individual (1) In general Subsection (ss) of section 1902 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a ) is amended to read as follows: (ss) Uninsured individual defined For purposes of this section, the term uninsured individual means, notwithstanding any other provision of this title, any individual who is not covered by minimum essential coverage (as defined in section 5000A(f)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986). . (2) Effective date The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect and apply as if included in the enactment of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ( Public Law 116–127 ). (c) Clarification regarding emergency services for certain individuals Section 1903(v)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396b(v)(2) ) is amended by adding at the end the following flush sentence: For purposes of subparagraph (A), care and services described in such subparagraph include any in vitro diagnostic product described in section 1905(a)(3)(B) that is administered during any portion of the emergency period described in such section beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this sentence (and the administration of such product), any COVID–19 vaccine that is administered during any such portion (and the administration of such vaccine), any item or service that is furnished during any such portion for the treatment of COVID–19 or a condition that may complicate the treatment of COVID–19, and any services described in section 1916(a)(2)(G). . (d) Inclusion of COVID–19 concern as an emergency condition Section 1903(v)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396b(v)(3) ) is amended by adding at the end the following flush sentence: Such term includes any indication that an alien described in paragraph (1) may have contracted COVID–19. .