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.
Amends section 1902(a) of the Social Security Act to add a new requirement (paragraph (88)) that, beginning January 1, 2027, States provide medical assistance to “relief-eligible survivors of disasters” during “relief coverage periods” in accordance with new section 1949.
Adds a new section 1949 to Title XIX establishing “Disaster relief Medicaid for survivors of major disasters.”
Requires that, notwithstanding other Title XIX rules, a State plan provide medical assistance to a relief-eligible survivor of a disaster in accordance with section 1949.
Defines “disaster” to include: (1) a major disaster declared by the President on or after January 1, 2027 under Stafford Act section 401 that warrants individual or public assistance; (2) a national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act; or (3) a public health emergency declared by the Secretary under Public Health Service Act section 319.
Defines “direct impact area” as the geographic area in which the disaster exists.
Who is affected and how:
Low‑income disaster survivors and Medicaid-eligible people: The primary beneficiaries are low-income people who lose access to care or whose care is disrupted by a qualifying disaster; they gain simplified enrollment, presumptive eligibility, and up to two years of continuous Medicaid coverage with comprehensive benefits and no State share for covered services.
Pregnant and postpartum people: The law includes special rules to ensure pregnant and postpartum individuals affected by disasters can maintain coverage through the relief period, improving continuity of prenatal and postpartum care.
People with disabilities and HCBS recipients: The bill prioritizes continuity of home- and community‑based services after disasters (including through the HCBS emergency response corps grants), reducing service interruptions for people who rely on in‑home supports.
Residents of directly impacted areas (Medicaid and CHIP): Residents in areas designated as directly impacted receive 100% federal payment for Medicaid and certain CHIP costs during the relief period, and redeterminations are paused to reduce loss of coverage.
State, territorial, and Tribal governments: States and territories must implement new enrollment, reporting, and continuous eligibility rules and may need legislative changes; they gain full federal match for covered services during relief periods but will incur administrative tasks to run the programs and produce reports. The Act provides a compliance window for states that need non‑appropriations legislation.
Providers and health systems: Hospitals, clinics, behavioral health and HCBS providers may see improved payment certainty for disaster-affected patients during relief periods because services for eligible beneficiaries are matched at 100% federally, but providers may face short-term administrative changes tied to presumptive eligibility and cross-State service rules.
Federal budget and program administration: The federal government assumes increased near-term Medicaid and CHIP costs in covered disasters and will fund the HCBS grant program; the law also creates administrative responsibilities for HHS (guidance, technical assistance, monitoring, and evaluation).
Potential tradeoffs and risks:
Last progress June 12, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 12, 2025 by Richard Blumenthal
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Updated 1 week ago
Last progress June 12, 2025 (8 months ago)
