Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Helping Medicaid Offer Maternity Services Act of 2019

or the

Helping MOMS Act of 2019

State option under Medicaid program to provide for and extend continuous coverage for certain individuals

(a)

State option To extend continuous coverage for pregnant and postpartum individuals

Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) is amended—(1)in section 1902(e)(5), by inserting after 60-day period the following: or, at the option of the State, 1-year period;(2)in section 1902(e)(6), by inserting after 60-day period the following: or, at the option of the State, 1-year period;(3)in section 1902(l)(1)(A), by inserting after 60-day period the following: , or, at the option of the State, 1-year period,;(4)in section 1903(v)(4)(A)(i), by inserting after 60-day period the following: , or, at the option of the State, 1-year period,; and(5)in section 1905(a), in the fourth sentence in the matter following paragraph (30), by inserting after 60-day period the following: , or, at the option of the State, 1-year period,.(b)

State option To provide continuous coverage for full benefits for individuals who are or become pregnant

Section 1902(e)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(6)), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended—(1)by striking (6) In the case of a pregnant woman and inserting

(6)(A)In the case of a pregnant woman

; and

(2)by adding at the end the following:

(B)(i)At the option of the State, the State plan may provide that an individual who is eligible for medical assistance under the State plan (or a waiver of such plan) or for child health assistance under title XXI and who is, or who while so eligible becomes, pregnant shall continue to be eligible for such medical assistance or child health assistance, respectively, through the end of the month in which the 1-year period (beginning on the last day of such pregnancy) ends, regardless of the basis for the individual’s eligibility for such medical assistance.

(c)

Increase of FMAP

Section 1905 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d) is amended—(1)in subsection (b), in the first sentence, by striking and (ff) and inserting (ff), and (gg); and (2)by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(gg)

Specified coverage extension States

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding subsection (b), beginning January 1, 2020, in the case of a specified coverage extension State, for the initial extension calendar quarters with respect to such State, the Federal medical assistance percentage that would otherwise apply to the State without application of this subsection, shall be increased by 5 percentage points.(2)

Specified coverage extension State

For purposes of this subsection, the term specified coverage extension State means a State, the State plan of which has in effect the application of the 1–year period of continuous medical assistance pursuant to each of paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 1902(e). (3)

Initial extension calendar quarter

For purposes of this subsection, the term initial extension calendar quarter means, with respect to a State, each calendar quarter occurring in the first fiscal year (or portion of fiscal year) occurring during the first 12-month period that the State is a specified coverage extension State.

(d)

Application to CHIP optional coverage of targeted low-Income pregnant women

Section 2112 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397ll) is amended—(1)in subsection (d)(2)(A), by inserting after 60-day period the following: , or, at the option of the State, 1-year period; and(2)in subsection (f)(2), by inserting after 60-day period the following: , or, at the option of the State, 1-year period.(e)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to eligibility determinations for items and services under State plans under title XIX of the Social Security Act (or a waiver of such a plan) (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) and under State child health plans under title XXI (or waiver of such a plan) made on or after January 1, 2020.

MACPAC report

(a)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (referred to in this section as MACPAC) shall publish a report on the coverage of doula services under State Medicaid programs, which shall at a minimum include the following:(1)Information about coverage for doula services under State Medicaid programs that currently provide coverage for such services, including the type of doula services offered (such as prenatal, labor and delivery, postpartum support, and also community-based and traditional doula services).(2)An analysis of barriers to covering doula services under State Medicaid programs.(3)An identification of effective strategies to increase the use of doula services in order to provide better care and achieve better maternal and infant health outcomes, including strategies that States may use to recruit, train, and certify a diverse doula workforce, particularly from underserved communities, communities of color, and communities facing linguistic or cultural barriers.(4)Recommendations for legislative and administrative actions to increase access to doula services in State Medicaid programs, including actions that ensure doulas may earn a living wage that accounts for their time and costs associated with providing care.(b)

Stakeholder consultation

In developing the report required under subsection (a), MACPAC shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including—(1)States;(2)organizations representing consumers, including those that are disproportionately impacted by poor maternal health outcomes;(3)organizations and individuals representing doula services providers, including community-based doula programs and those who serve underserved communities, including communities of color, and communities facing linguistic or cultural barriers; and(4)organizations representing health care providers.

GAO report

(a)

In general

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act and every five years thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the State adoption, under the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) and the Children’s Health Insurance Program under title XXI of such Act, of extending coverage to 365 days postpartum pursuant to the provisions of (and amendments made by this Act). Such report shall include the information and recommendations described in subsection (b) and shall also identify ongoing gaps in coverage for—(1)pregnant women under the Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program; and(2)postpartum women under the Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program who received assistance under either such program during their pregnancy.(b)

Content of report

The report under subsection (a) shall include the following:(1)Information regarding the extent to which States have elected to extend coverage to 365 days postpartum pursuant to the provisions of (and amendments made by this Act), including which States make the election and when, impacts on perinatal insurance churn in those States compared to States that did not make such election, other health impacts of such election including regarding maternal mortality and morbidity rates, and impacts on State and Federal Medicaid spending.(2)Information about the abilities, successes, and challenges of State Medicaid agencies in—(A)transitioning their eligibility systems to incorporate such an election by a State and in determining whether pregnant and postpartum women are eligible under another insurance affordability program; and(B)transitioning any such women who are so eligible to coverage under such a program, pursuant to section 1943(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C 1396w–3(b)(3)).(3)Information on factors contributing to ongoing gaps in coverage resulting from women transitioning from coverage under the Medicaid program or Children’s Health Insurance Program that disproportionately impact underserved populations, including low-income women, women of color, women who reside in a health professional shortage area (as defined in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(1)(A))), or who are members of a medically underserved population (as defined by section 330(b)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)(A))).(4)Recommendations for addressing and reducing such gaps in coverage.(5)Such other information as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.

Report on Medicaid bundled payments for pregnancy-related services

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment Advisory Commission shall submit to Congress a report containing an analysis of the use of bundled payments for reimbursing health care providers with respect to pregnancy-related services furnished under State plans (or waivers of such plans) under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).