Summary

Creates a new, time-limited "Disaster Relief Medicaid" benefit to give certain disaster survivors up to two years of continuous Medicaid coverage beginning January 1, 2027, with simplified enrollment, presumptive eligibility, and full federal match for covered services. It also directs HHS to issue guidance, provide technical assistance, run grants to build Home and Community‑Based Services (HCBS) emergency response corps, provide 100% federal payment for Medicaid/CHIP costs for residents of directly impacted areas during relief periods, expand the definition of emergency areas for a separate statutory authority, exclude disaster relief periods from counting toward the Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty (text not supplied), and require an independent evaluation of the law’s effects.

Key Points

• Establishes a Disaster Relief Medicaid benefit offering up to two years of continuous coverage for qualifying disaster survivors, effective Jan 1, 2027.
• Requires simplified applications and presumptive eligibility so survivors can access care quickly after a disaster.
• Provides 100% federal matching for covered services and related administration for beneficiaries under the new benefit and for residents of directly impacted areas.
• Creates an HHS-led grant program (FY2027–2032) to build HCBS emergency response corps and requires HHS guidance and technical assistance.
• Pauses Medicaid eligibility redeterminations for residents of direct impact areas during the relief coverage period to prevent churn.
• Expands the statutory definition of an "emergency area" to include places that receive large numbers of evacuees from a declared emergency.
• Amends the Medicare Part B late enrollment rule to exclude disaster relief coverage periods (exact insertion text not provided).
• Requires annual State reporting, fraud penalties, and an independent 5‑year evaluation with interim and final reports to Congress.

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