[118th Congress Public Law 225]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 138 STAT. 2817]]
Public Law 118-225
118th Congress
An Act
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a
website to promote awareness of available resources for individuals with
disabilities, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Jan. 4, 2025 - [H.R.
670]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Think
Differently Database Act. 42 USC 1396 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Think Differently Database Act''.
SEC. 2. PROMOTING AWARENESS OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES.
(a) In General.-- <<NOTE: Deadline. Update. Public
information.>> Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section
referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall establish and update
periodically a publicly available website to provide information with
respect to resources and information for people with a disability and
the caregivers and families of such people. Such website shall include--
(1) information on eligibility to receive medical assistance
under a State plan under the Medicaid program under title XIX of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (or a waiver of
such plan) based on a disability, including general information
about eligibility under subclauses (XIII), (XV), (XVI), and
(XIX) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii));
(2) which States offer eligibility under subclauses (XIII),
(XV), (XVI), and (XIX) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii));
(3) each State's specific eligibility requirements, if
applicable, under subclauses (XIII), (XV), (XVI), and (XIX) of
section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii));
(4) information about how to contact each State's Medicaid
office for information about Medicaid, including links and phone
numbers for State contacts;
(5) general information on Medicaid-covered long-term
services and supports that may be available to individuals
eligible for medical assistance under a State plan under the
Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (or a waiver of such plan); and
(6) where applicable, the average amount of time that
individuals newly enrolled in a State's waiver program for home
and community-based services in the past 12 months
[[Page 138 STAT. 2818]]
were on the list of individuals waiting to enroll in such waiver
program, in such a manner and process as described in section
441.311(d)(1)(iii) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations.
(b) Promotion.--The Secretary shall, as applicable and appropriate,
identify and disseminate promotional activities to improve, among people
with a disability and the caretakers and families of such people, the
awareness of the resources included in the website established under
subsection (a), such as through collaboration with the Social Security
Administration during its annual updates to the Red Book.
(c) Model.--In establishing the website under this section, the
Secretary may use the website thinkdifferently.net as a model.
(d) Nonapplication of Paperwork Reduction Act.--Chapter 35 of title
44, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995''), shall not apply to the implementation of this
section.
Approved January 4, 2025.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 670:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 118-874 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):
Dec. 17, considered and passed House.
Dec. 20, considered and passed Senate.
<all>