[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5291-H5292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MEDICAID PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT ACT

  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 8111) to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to 
ensure the reliability of address information provided under the 
Medicaid program, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 8111

       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 Program Improvement 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. ENSURING THE RELIABILITY OF ADDRESS INFORMATION 
                   PROVIDED UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 1902(a) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (86), by striking ``and'' at the end;

[[Page H5292]]

       (2) in paragraph (87), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (87) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(88) beginning January 1, 2026, provide for a process to 
     regularly obtain address information for individuals enrolled 
     under such plan (or a waiver of such plan) from reliable data 
     sources (as described in section 435.919(f)(1)(iii) of title 
     42, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) 
     and act on any changes to such an address based on such 
     information in accordance with such section (or successor 
     regulation), except that this paragraph shall only apply in 
     the case of the 50 States and the District of Columbia.''.
       (b) Application to CHIP.--Section 2107(e)(1) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397gg(e)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (H) through (U) as 
     subparagraphs (I) through (V), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(H) Section 1902(a)(88) (relating to regularly obtaining 
     address information for enrollees).''.
       (c) Ensuring Transmission of Address Information From 
     Managed Care Organizations.--Section 1932 of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396u-2) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following new subsection:
       ``(j) Transmission of Address Information.--Beginning 
     January 1, 2026, each contract under a State plan with a 
     managed care entity under section 1903(m) shall provide that 
     the entity transmits to the State any address information for 
     an individual enrolled with the entity that is provided to 
     such entity directly from, or verified by such entity 
     directly with, such individual.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Pallone) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Iowa.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Iowa?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8111, the 
Medicaid Program Improvement Act.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill represents a significant step forward in how 
we manage and improve the Medicaid program. Every day, Medicaid serves 
millions of Americans, providing critical healthcare services. However, 
an often overlooked aspect of this vital program is the accuracy and 
reliability of address information for our beneficiaries.
  Inaccurate or outdated addresses can lead to beneficiaries being 
enrolled in multiple State Medicaid programs, jeopardizing program 
integrity. The Medicaid Program Improvement Act addresses this issue 
head on. By amending title XIX of the Social Security Act, we will 
ensure that Medicaid programs have a robust and regular process for 
verifying and updating address information.
  Starting January 1, 2026, State Medicaid programs will utilize 
reliable data sources to keep address information current, which will 
be crucial in ensuring that individuals receive the care they need, but 
are also eligible without unnecessary interruptions.
  Additionally, my bill extends these requirements to the Children's 
Health Insurance Program, CHIP, and mandates that managed care 
organizations transmit accurate address information to States.
  This comprehensive approach guarantees that all aspects of our 
Medicaid and CHIP systems work in concert to deliver seamless, 
effective care. Let's take this important step together and ensure that 
State Medicaid systems function reliably and effectively as much as 
they can.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8111, which is sponsored 
by the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), as well as the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright).
  Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill would require State Medicaid 
agencies to regularly obtain updated beneficiary address information 
from reliable sources, including Medicaid managed care plans. This 
requirement helps to accomplish two things.
  First, when the time comes for a State Medicaid agency to renew a 
person's Medicaid eligibility, it is critical that the State has the 
most up-to-date address information. Too often, people lose Medicaid 
coverage for administrative reasons. Some people just don't return the 
paperwork for this reason, for example.
  Some people simply never receive the notice that the State has sent 
to them indicating it was time to renew their healthcare coverage for 
Medicaid. Collecting and using updated address information from 
reliable sources helps States to reach people and renew their coverage.
  The second thing is having updated address information helps States 
identify when an individual may have moved out of State, and this 
information could help States ensure payments are not made for 
beneficiaries who are no longer residents of the State.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a straightforward policy that helps to address 
practical challenges for people and for State Medicaid agencies, and I 
urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 8111.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. In closing, I would 
simply ask that Members vote for this bill on a bipartisan basis. It is 
important for Medicaid recipients.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' 
vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Weber of Texas). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks) that 
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8111, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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