[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 164 (Friday, October 6, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E938-E939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE MEDICAID ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2023

                                 ______
                                 

                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                      of northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 6, 2023

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to introduce the 
Medicaid Accountability Act of 2023. My legislation would remove 
barriers to operating Medicaid Fraud Control Units in the territories, 
advancing our ability to recover taxpayer money through the 
investigation of Medicaid provider fraud, abuse, and neglect.
  The U.S. territories are subject to a hard, statutory cap on federal 
Medicaid support, unlike the 50 states and the District of Columbia. As 
such, any spending for the operation of an MFCU is counted against the 
cap and subtracts from the amount of federal funding available for the 
coverage of healthcare services.
  Congress has acknowledged this challenge. We acted to exempt MFCU 
spending from Puerto Rico's cap through P.L. 115-31, Consolidated 
Appropriations Act of 2017. This exemption was extended to the U.S. 
Virgin Islands through P.L. 115-123, Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. We 
did not, however, extend this exemption to the other territories 
although all territories are statutorily required to operate an MFCU.
  Congress has previously agreed that spending towards systems 
improvement measures should be exempt from the cap. In addition to 
MFCUs, Congress has exempted spending related to Transformed Medicaid 
Statistical Information System, Medicaid Electronic Health Record 
Incentive Program, and the design and operation of the claims and 
eligibility systems.
  Without such exemptions, territories must choose between covering 
healthcare services or making systems improvements. And faced with 
various emergencies--from natural disasters to a pandemic--in recent 
years, territories have prioritized the coverage of healthcare 
services. Furthermore, certain territories have repeatedly exhausted 
their limited block grant, leaving no federal funding to support 
systems improvement measures.
  My bill, the Medicaid Accountability Act of 2023, plugs a gap in our 
nation's ability to protect taxpayer money. By extending the exemption 
on MFCU spending to all territories, Congress can promote the success 
of the territories in meeting statutory obligations to combat 
healthcare fraud and safeguard our Medicaid population from abuse, 
neglect, and misappropriation of funds.
  I thank my colleagues who joined me in introducing this legislation--
Mr. Moylan, Ms. Plaskett, and Ms. Radewagen.

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