[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5296-H5297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MEDICAID PROVIDER SCREENING REQUIREMENTS

  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 8112) to amend title XIX of the Social Security 
Act to further require certain additional provider screening under the 
Medicaid program, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 8112

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. MEDICAID PROVIDER SCREENING REQUIREMENTS.

       Section 1902(kk)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1396a(kk)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``The State'' and inserting:
       ``(A) In general.--The State''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) Additional provider screening.--Beginning January 1, 
     2027, as part of the enrollment (or reenrollment or 
     revalidation of enrollment) of a provider or supplier under 
     this title, and not less frequently than monthly during the 
     period that such provider or supplier is so enrolled, the 
     State conducts a check of any database or similar system 
     developed pursuant to section 6401(b)(2) of the Patient 
     Protection and Affordable Care Act to determine whether the 
     Secretary has terminated the participation of such provider 
     or supplier under title XVIII, or whether any other State has 
     terminated the participation of such provider or supplier 
     under such other State's State plan under this title (or 
     waiver of the plan), or such other State's State child health 
     plan under title XXI (or waiver of the plan).''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on the 
bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8112 is simple. We should not let bad actors that 
the Medicaid program has determined should not see seniors continue to 
see Medicaid patients.
  Medicare may remove providers for a number of reasons, including 
felonies that take place in the Medicare program or putting its 
beneficiaries at immediate risk, such as a malpractice suit that 
results in conviction for criminal neglect.
  For example, a doctor who has been found guilty of running a pill 
mill can be removed from being able to be paid by Medicare and 
Medicaid. Doctors that have been terminated are listed in the Data 
EXchange, or the DEX, a Federal database that monitors doctors who have 
been terminated from Medicare and Medicaid program, but currently, 
States are not required to check the DEX.
  If a doctor breaks the law in one State and is removed from that 
State's Medicaid program, the doctor will be entered into the Data 
EXchange. However, if my home State isn't checking that, the doctor may 
set up a practice across the State line and be paid by Medicaid.
  This bill is straightforward and would require States to check every 
month to ensure that bad actors aren't in our systems. I hope we can 
all agree that keeping bad actors and bad doctors out of Medicaid is in 
everyone's best interests.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and 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. 8112, legislation to 
amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to further require certain 
additional provider screening under the Medicaid program.
  This bill clarifies that States must regularly check a Federal 
database that identifies healthcare providers that have been revoked 
from Medicare

[[Page H5297]]

or terminated from States' Medicaid programs. It is important that 
States regularly take this step to identify providers who have been 
terminated from Medicare or Medicaid for reasons like fraudulent 
conduct or falsification of medical records. Once these bad actors are 
identified, States should take appropriate action against them.
  This is yet another way that we can protect Americans against 
healthcare providers who don't have the best interests of their 
patients in mind.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' 
on H.R. 8112, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. D'Esposito).
  Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Rodgers for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge support for my bill, H.R. 8112, the 
Medicaid integrity act.
  As it stands now, bad actor physicians are logged into the Data 
EXchange database, or the DEX, and prohibited from participating and 
billing Medicare, preventing them from further taking advantage of 
America's seniors.
  Tragically, there exists no such protection for Americans on 
Medicaid, as States are not required to check the status of a 
provider's eligibility.
  Americans who rely on Medicaid are among the most vulnerable 
populations in this Nation, and the adoption of my bill would implement 
additional protectors to do right by these vulnerable Americans.
  I was sent to Congress by my neighbors in New York's Fourth 
Congressional District not to restrict or limit Medicare or Medicaid 
but to protect and expand these vital lifesaving programs. The 
legislation my colleagues will soon have an opportunity to vote on will 
do exactly that.

                              {time}  2000

  This 1\1/2\ page bill applies the same simple protections we use for 
Medicare to Medicaid, ensuring the physicians looking to make a quick 
buck on America's most vulnerable are prohibited from doing so.
  This is a no-brainer. This no-brainer legislation strengthens 
Medicaid, ensuring its integrity, and makes good on America's promise 
to our vulnerable and elderly made nearly 60 years ago.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, again, what we are trying to do here, as 
the chair of the committee has said, is get rid of bad actors.
  I think this is an effective way to do it, so I would hope everyone 
would join me on both sides of the aisle in voting ``yes'' on this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a 
``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8112, 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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