Bill Summary
This bill is proposing to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act in order to permanently extend the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and make other changes. The bill is called the "Comprehensive Access to Robust Insurance Now Guaranteed for Kids Act" or "CARING for Kids Act." The first section establishes the short title and the second section makes a permanent extension of the CHIP program. This section also outlines the allotments of funds to states for the program. The third section makes permanent extensions to other programs and demonstration projects related to children's health, such as the Pediatric Quality Measures Program and the Express Lane Eligibility Option. The fourth section removes a requirement for states to ensure affordability for children and families in the CHIP program. The fifth section provides a qualifying states option and the sixth section establishes an outreach and enrollment program for the CHIP program. The final section creates a child enrollment contingency fund for the CHIP program. Overall, this bill aims to provide long-term support and resources for children's health insurance.
Possible Impacts
1. The permanent extension of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) would ensure that children from low-income families have access to healthcare. This could positively affect children and their families by providing them with necessary medical services and reducing financial burdens.
2. The Pediatric Quality Measures Program (PQMP) would be funded for an additional fiscal year, allowing for the development and implementation of measures to improve the quality of care for children. This could potentially improve the overall health and well-being of children and their families.
3. The Assurance of Affordability Standard for Children and Families would allow states to determine eligibility for healthcare coverage based on affordability. This could potentially benefit families who may have previously been ineligible for coverage due to income limitations, allowing them to access necessary medical services.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6151 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6151
To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to permanently extend the
Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 9, 2020
Ms. Finkenauer (for herself and Mr. Buchanan) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to permanently extend the
Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Comprehensive Access to Robust
Insurance Now Guaranteed for Kids Act'' or ``CARING for Kids Act''.
SEC. 2. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 2104(a)(28) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1397dd(a)(28)) is amended to read as follows:
``(28) for fiscal year 2027 and each subsequent year, such
sums as are necessary to fund allotments to States under
subsections (c) and (m).''.
(b) Allotments.--
(1) In general.--Section 2104(m) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1397dd(m)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by striking ``,, 2023,
and 2027'' and inserting ``and 2023'';
(B) in paragraph (7)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and
ending with fiscal year 2027,''; and
(ii) in the flush left matter at the end,
by striking ``or fiscal year 2026'' and
inserting ``fiscal year 2026, or a subsequent
even-numbered fiscal year'';
(C) in paragraph (9)--
(i) by striking ``(10), or (11)'' and
inserting ``or (10)''; and
(ii) by striking ``2023, or 2027,'' and
inserting ``or 2023''; and
(D) by striking paragraph (11).
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 50101(b)(2) of the
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-123) is repealed.
SEC. 3. PERMANENT EXTENSIONS OF OTHER PROGRAMS AND DEMONSTRATION
PROJECTS.
(a) Pediatric Quality Measures Program.--Section 1139A(i)(1) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-9a(i)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking at the end ``and'';
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end
and insert a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(E) for fiscal year 2028, $15,000,000 for the
purpose of carrying out this section (other than
subsections (e), (f), and (g)); and
``(F) for a subsequent fiscal year, the amount
appropriated under this paragraph for the previous
fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase in
the consumer price index for all urban consumers (all
items; United States city average) over such previous
fiscal year, for the purpose of carrying out this
section (other than subsections (e), (f), and (g)).''.
(b) Express Lane Eligibility Option.--Section 1902(e)(13) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(13)) is amended by striking
subparagraph (I).
(c) Assurance of Affordability Standard for Children and
Families.--
(1) In general.--Section 2105(d)(3) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1397ee(d)(3)) is amended--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``through
september 30, 2027''; and
(B) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding
clause (i)--
(i) by striking ``During the period that
begins on the date of enactment of the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act and ends on
September 30, 2027'' and inserting ``Beginning
on the date of the enactment of the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act'';
(ii) by striking ``During the period that
begins on October 1, 2019, and ends on
September 30, 2027'' and inserting ``Beginning
on October 1, 2019''; and
(iii) by striking ``The preceding sentences
shall not be construed as preventing a State
during any such periods from'' and inserting
``The preceding sentences shall not be
construed as preventing a State from''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--Section 1902(gg)(2) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(gg)(2)) is amended--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``through
september 30, 2027''; and
(B) by striking ``through September 30'' and all
that follows through ``ends on September 30, 2027'' and
inserting ``(but beginning on October 1, 2019,''.
(d) Qualifying States Option.--Section 2105(g)(4) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397ee(g)(4)) is amended--
(1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``for fiscal
years 2009 through 2027'' and inserting ``after fiscal year
2008''; and
(2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``for any of fiscal
years 2009 through 2027'' and inserting ``for any fiscal year
after fiscal year 2008''.
(e) Outreach and Enrollment Program.--Section 2113 of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397mm) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``during the
period of fiscal years 2009 through 2027'' and
inserting ``, beginning with fiscal year 2009,'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``10 percent of such
amounts'' and inserting ``10 percent of such
amounts for the period or the fiscal year for
which such amounts are appropriated''; and
(ii) by striking ``during such period'' and
inserting ``, during such period or such fiscal
year,''; and
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``For the period
of fiscal years 2024 through 2027, an amount equal to
10 percent of such amounts'' and inserting ``Beginning
with fiscal year 2024, an amount equal to 10 percent of
such amounts for the period or the fiscal year for
which such amounts are appropriated''; and
(2) in subsection (g)--
(A) by striking ``2017,,'' and inserting ``2017,'';
(B) by striking ``and $48,000,000'' and inserting
``$48,000,000''; and
(C) by inserting after ``through 2027'' the
following: ``, $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2028, and,
for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2028, the amount
appropriated under this subsection for the previous
fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase in
the consumer price index for all urban consumers (all
items; United States city average) over such previous
fiscal year''.
(f) Child Enrollment Contingency Fund.--Section 2104(n) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397dd(n)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii)--
(i) by striking ``and 2024 through 2026''
and inserting ``beginning with fiscal year
2024''; and
(ii) by striking ``2023, and 2027'' and
inserting ``, and 2023''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by striking ``2024 through 2026'' and
inserting ``beginning with fiscal year 2024'';
and
(ii) by striking ``2023, and 2027'' and
inserting ``, and 2023''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)(A)--
(A) by striking ``fiscal years 2024 through 2026''
and inserting ``beginning with fiscal year 2024''; and
(B) by striking ``2023, or 2027'' and inserting ``,
or 2023''.
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