Medicaid Accountability Act

Bill: 116-s-2377
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2019-07-31
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Bank accounts, deposits, capital

Health care coverage and access

Health programs administration and funding

Medicaid

Poverty and welfare assistance

State and local government operations

U.S. territories and protectorates

Wages and earnings
Latest action: action_date: 2019-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-07-31
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Medicaid Accountability Act</b></p> <p>This bill establishes and expands certain requirements relating to Medicaid asset verification programs and other eligibility determinations. </p> <p>Specifically, the bill requires state Medicaid programs to verify the assets of all Medicaid applicants and recipients for purposes of determining Medicaid eligibility, rather than only of applicants or recipients who are aged, blind, or disabled. The bill also requires U.S. territories to implement asset verification programs. Such requirements must be fully implemented by FY2024.</p> <p>The bill also requires state Medicaid programs to apply a resource eligibility test whenever an income eligibility determination is required, based on resource limitations under the Supplemental Security Income program (currently, states are prohibited from using resource tests).</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2377 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 31, 2019 Mr. Inhofe introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To apply the Medicaid asset verification program to all applicants for, and recipients of, medical assistance in all States and territories, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medicaid Accountability Act . 2. Application of Medicaid asset test to all applicants for, and recipients of, medical assistance in all States and territories (a) Application to all applicants and recipients Section 1940(b)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396w(b)(1)(A) ) is amended by striking on the basis of being aged, blind, or disabled . (b) Application to the territories Section 1940(a) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396w(a) ) is amended by striking paragraph (4). (c) Effective date The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. (d) Phase-In implementation (1) In general During the 180 day period that begins on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall require States to submit and implement an asset verification program under section 1940 of the Social Security Act (as amended by subsections (a) and (b)) in such manner as is designed to result in the application of such programs, in the aggregate for all States, to enrollment of approximately, but not less than, the following percentage of enrollees, in the aggregate for all States, by the end of the fiscal year involved: (A) 12.5 percent by the end of fiscal year 2020. (B) 25 percent by the end of fiscal year 2021. (C) 50 percent by the end of fiscal year 2022. (D) 75 percent by the end of fiscal year 2023. (E) 100 percent by the end of fiscal year 2024. (2) Consideration In selecting States under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consult with the States involved and take into account the feasibility of implementing asset verification programs in each such State. (3) Construction Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed as preventing a State from requesting, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services from approving, the implementation of an asset verification program in advance of the deadline otherwise established under such paragraph. 3. Medicaid resources eligibility requirement (a) In general Section 1902(e)(14)(C) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(14)(C) ) is amended to read as follows— (C) Resources test requirement (i) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, in the case of any individual with respect to whom a determination of income eligibility for medical assistance under the State plan or under any waiver of such plan is required, the State shall also apply a resources eligibility test that meets the requirement of clause (ii). (ii) Requirement A State resources eligibility test meets the requirement of this clause if the test precludes eligibility for any individual whose resources (as determined under section 1613 for purposes of the supplemental security income program) exceed the maximum amount of resources that an individual may have and obtain benefits under that program, or such lower amount of resources as the State shall establish. . (b) Effective date (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2020. (2) Rule for changes requiring State legislation In the case of a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirement imposed by the amendment made by subsection (a), the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such title solely on the basis of its failure to meet this additional requirement before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.