Bill Summary
The Medicaid Accountability Act requires all applicants and recipients of medical assistance in all states and territories to undergo a Medicaid asset verification program. This means that individuals applying for this program will have their assets checked to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements. The Act also requires a resources eligibility test, which sets a maximum amount of resources an individual can have to qualify for medical assistance. This Act will be phased in over a few years, gradually increasing the percentage of enrollees who are subject to asset verification. The effective date of this Act is the date it is enacted, and the resources eligibility requirement will go into effect on October 1, 2020, with some flexibility for states that need to make legislative changes.
Possible Impacts
1. The Medicaid Accountability Act could limit access to medical assistance for individuals with high levels of assets, as they would no longer be eligible for benefits. This could potentially affect wealthy individuals or those who have significant savings or property.
2. The implementation of asset verification programs could create additional administrative burdens for states, which may impact the efficiency and speed of the Medicaid application process. This could affect low-income individuals who rely on Medicaid for their healthcare needs and may face delays or difficulties in obtaining coverage.
3. The requirement for a resources eligibility test could result in individuals losing their Medicaid coverage if their resources exceed a certain amount. This could disproportionately affect elderly individuals, as they may have accumulated more assets over their lifetime.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2377 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2377
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
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 ``Medicaid Accountability Act''.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
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