summary
Introduced
06/11/2019
06/11/2019
In Committee
06/11/2019
06/11/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020
12/31/2020
Introduced Session
116th Congress
Bill Summary
A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to make improvements to the treatment of the United States territories under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and for other purposes. This bill alters provisions under Medicaid, Medicare, and Medicare Advantage relating to U.S. territories, and generally modifies and establishes programs to expand health insurance coverage for residents. Among other things, the bill eliminates Medicaid funding limitations for U.S. territories beginning in FY2020, repeals provisions that exclude residents of Puerto Rico from a certain automatic enrollment process for Medicare medical services, establishes minimum criteria for certain elements used in Medicare Advantage payment calculations for areas within U.S. territories, and allows residents of U.S. territories who are unable to obtain health insurance through their employer or a health insurance exchange to instead obtain coverage that is at least as broad as the coverage available to Members of Congress and their staff through the District of Columbia exchange.
AI Summary
This bill, the Territories Health Equity Act of 2019, makes several changes to improve the treatment of U.S. territories under the Medicaid and Medicare programs. The key provisions include: eliminating funding limitations (caps) on Medicaid for territories beginning in fiscal year 2020; temporarily increasing the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid to 100% for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in 2020 and 2021; applying Medicaid waiver authority to all territories; allowing for Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) allotments for territories; modifying how Medicare DSH payments are calculated for hospitals in Puerto Rico; rebasing Medicare target amounts for hospitals in territories; increasing Medicare DSH target amounts for hospitals in territories with high disproportionate patient percentages; applying the Medicare Part B deemed enrollment process to residents of Puerto Rico; and allowing residents of territories to obtain health insurance coverage through the District of Columbia exchange if no coverage is available through their employer or a local exchange.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (9)
Bernie Sanders (I)*,
Richard Blumenthal (D),
Cory Booker (D),
Kirsten Gillibrand (D),
Kamala Harris (D),
Amy Klobuchar (D),
Ed Markey (D),
Jeff Merkley (D),
Elizabeth Warren (D),
Last Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (on 06/11/2019)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1773/all-info |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s1773/BILLS-116s1773is.pdf |
| Bill | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s1773/BILLS-116s1773is.pdf.pdf |
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