[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 113 (Friday, July 6, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 5583 TO AMEND TITLE XI OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT TO 
   REQUIRE STATES TO ANNUALLY REPORT ON CERTAIN ADULT HEALTH QUALITY 
                                MEASURES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 6, 2018

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5583, 
a bill to Amend Title XI of the Social Security Act to Require States 
to Annually Report on Certain Adult Health Quality Measures.
  The United States must affirm its role as a leader in domestic care 
by guaranteeing access to plentiful and accurate information regarding 
the health of its most vulnerable citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, over 67.4 million individuals are enrolled in Medicaid 
as of March of 2018.
  In Texas, Medicaid covers 1 in 14 adults under the age of 65, 1 in 3 
low-income individuals, 2 in 5 children, 3 in 5 nursing home residents, 
and 1 in 3 people with disabilities.
  There are currently over 717 thousand open Medicaid cases in Harris 
County alone.
  In addition, to doctor and hospital visits, Medicaid covers long-term 
services like nursing homes and community-based services that allow 
people with chronic conditions and disabilities to live independently.
  Medicaid covers more than half of all nursing home residents.
  H.R. 5583 requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to 
expand its core set of adult health quality measures for Medicaid-
eligible adults to include measures specific to behavioral health.
  A state Medicaid program must report annually on such measures.
  This bill requires States to use all behavioral health measures 
included in the core set of adult health quality metrics, and any 
changes to such measures, to be reported regarding the quality of 
health care for Medicaid-eligible adults.
  By passing this bill and instituting these reporting requirements, we 
can ensure equitable attention to healthcare for Medicaid-eligible men 
and women.
  Americans, no matter their financial circumstances, deserve access to 
healthcare, and this bill will ensure that discrepancies in care among 
low-income Americans can be identified and addressed.
  Safeguarding the health and healthcare of our citizens is the best 
way to concretely demonstrate our dedication to their safety and well-
being.
  It is not only the right thing to do for our citizens; it is the 
smart thing to do for our nation.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 5583, a bill that 
will ensure the healthcare of all Americans can be addressed and 
improved by requiring annual reports on the health quality of Medicaid-
eligible Americans.