[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 126 (Thursday, July 25, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     EMPOWERING BENEFICIARIES, ENSURING ACCESS, AND STRENGTHENING 
                       ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2019

  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 3253.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 3253) to provide for certain extensions with 
     respect to the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social 
     Security Act, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Blunt substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to, and 
the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 930) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to, 
as follows:

                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Sustaining Excellence in 
     Medicaid Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 
                   DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

       Section 223(d)(3) of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act 
     of 2014 (42 U.S.C. 1396a note), as amended by Public Law 116-
     29, is amended by striking ``July 14, 2019'' and inserting 
     ``September 13, 2019''.

     SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF PROTECTION FOR MEDICAID RECIPIENTS OF 
                   HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AGAINST 
                   SPOUSAL IMPOVERISHMENT.

       (a) In General.--Section 2404 of Public Law 111-148 (42 
     U.S.C. 1396r-5 note) is amended by striking ``September 30, 
     2019'' and inserting ``December 31, 2019''.
       (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in section 2404 of 
     Public Law 111-148 (42 U.S.C. 1396r-5 note) or section 
     1902(a)(17) or 1924 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1396a(a)(17), 1396r-5) shall be construed as prohibiting a 
     State from applying an income or resource disregard under a 
     methodology authorized under section 1902(r)(2) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1396a(r)(2))--
       (1) to the income or resources of an individual described 
     in section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(VI) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii)(VI)) (including a disregard of the income 
     or resources of such individual's spouse); or
       (2) on the basis of an individual's need for home and 
     community-based services authorized under subsection (c), 
     (d), (i), or (k) of section 1915 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1396n) or under section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315).

     SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF MONEY FOLLOWS THE PERSON REBALANCING 
                   DEMONSTRATION.

       Section 6071(h)(1)(F) of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 
     (42 U.S.C. 1396a note) is amended by striking 
     ``$132,000,000'' and inserting ``$254,500,000''.

     SEC. 5. EXTENSION FOR FAMILY-TO-FAMILY HEALTH INFORMATION 
                   CENTERS.

       Section 501(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     701(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(A)(vii), by striking ``and 2019'' and 
     inserting ``through 2024''; and
       (2) in paragraph (3)(C), by striking ``fiscal years 2018 
     and 2019'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal 
     year thereafter''.

     SEC. 6. REDUCED WHOLESALE ACQUISITION COST (WAC)-BASED 
                   PAYMENTS FOR NEW DRUGS AND BIOLOGICALS.

       Section 1847A(c)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1395w-3a(c)(4)) is amended by striking ``payable under this 
     section for the drug or biological based on--'' and all that 
     follows through the period at the end and inserting the 
     following: ``payable under this section--
       ``(A) in the case of a drug or biological furnished prior 
     to January 1, 2019, based on--
       ``(i) the wholesale acquisition cost; or
       ``(ii) the methodologies in effect under this part on 
     November 1, 2003, to determine payment amounts for drugs or 
     biologicals; and
       ``(B) in the case of a drug or biological furnished on or 
     after January 1, 2019--
       ``(i) at an amount not to exceed 103 percent of the 
     wholesale acquisition cost; or
       ``(ii) based on the methodologies in effect under this part 
     on November 1, 2003, to determine payment amounts for drugs 
     or biologicals.''.

  The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a 
third time.
  The bill was read the third time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on 
the bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
  Hearing none, the bill having been read the third time, the question 
is, Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (H.R. 3253), as amended, was passed.
  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________