Sponsors (2)
The bill improves Medicaid continuity and preserves HCBS waiting‑list rights for people who relocate (notably military families), at the cost of additional state administrative and fiscal burdens, possible service gaps where receiving States lack offerings, and added complexity requiring HHS oversight.
Active‑duty service members and other Medicaid beneficiaries who relocate keep Medicaid residency and continuity of care, and receiving States must pay for covered medical assistance, reducing coverage gaps, out‑of‑pocket costs, and cross‑state payment disputes.
People on State HCBS waiting lists (e.g., individuals with chronic conditions, elderly, and disabled) retain their place on the waiting list while assessments, eligibility determinations, and fair‑hearing rights are completed, preserving access to long‑term services and supports.
Provides dedicated implementation funding ($1 million per year, FY2026–2030) for HHS to develop guidance and support transition, improving the likelihood of coordinated, smoother implementation across States.
States will incur administrative and fiscal costs to implement new residency, payment, and waiting‑list rules, which could pressure state budgets and force tradeoffs with other programs or services.
If the receiving State does not provide the requested HCBS or specific services, beneficiaries may still face delays or unmet needs despite retention of waiting‑list status, limiting immediate access to care.
Requiring States to honor out‑of‑state HCBS assessments and rights could spur interstate disputes and demand substantial HHS oversight to resolve inconsistent program rules, creating administrative delays and uncertainty.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires receiving States to treat active‑duty relocated individuals as Medicaid residents, preserve HCBS waiting‑list positions during determinations/appeals, and pay for covered care when available; funds HHS $1M/year for implementation.
Official title: To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish State plan requirements for determining residency and coverage for military families, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 14, 2025 by Jennifer Kiggans · Last progress May 14, 2025
Requires State Medicaid programs to treat certain active‑duty service members and their families who relocate as state residents for Medicaid eligibility, preserves their place on home‑and‑community‑based services (HCBS) waiting lists while a receiving state completes eligibility and appeals, and requires the receiving state to pay for covered medical assistance furnished there to the extent services are available and consistent with federal guidance. Provides $1 million per year (FY2026–FY2030) to HHS for implementation and sets effective dates with a limited delayed compliance window for states that need to change state law.