I
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6616
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 24, 2020
Mr. Cárdenas (for himself and Ms. Sánchez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to allow States to provide coverage under the Medicaid program for vaccines and treatment for COVID–19 for uninsured individuals without the imposition of cost sharing requirements, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Stronger Medicaid Response to the COVID–19 Pandemic Act
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Optional coverage at no cost sharing of COVID–19 treatment and vaccines under Medicaid for uninsured individuals
In general
Section 1902(a)(10) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)) is amended, in the matter following subparagraph (G), by striking and any visit described in section 1916(a)(2)(G)
and inserting the following: , any COVID–19 vaccine that is administered during any such portion (and the administration of such vaccine), any item or service that is furnished during any such portion for the treatment of COVID–19 or a condition that may complicate the treatment of COVID–19, and any services described in section 1916(a)(2)(G)
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Definition of uninsured individual
In general
Subsection (ss) of section 1902 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a) is amended to read as follows:
Uninsured individual defined
For purposes of this section, the term uninsured individual means, notwithstanding any other provision of this title, any individual who is not covered by minimum essential coverage (as defined in section 5000A(f)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).
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Effective date
The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect and apply as if included in the enactment of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116–127).
Clarification regarding emergency services for certain individuals
Section 1903(v)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(v)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following flush sentence:
For purposes of subparagraph (A), care and services described in such subparagraph include any in vitro diagnostic product described in section 1905(a)(3)(B) that is administered during any portion of the emergency period described in such section beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this sentence (and the administration of such product), any COVID–19 vaccine that is administered during any such portion (and the administration of such vaccine), any item or service that is furnished during any such portion for the treatment of COVID–19 or a condition that may complicate the treatment of COVID–19, and any services described in section 1916(a)(2)(G).
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Inclusion of COVID–19 concern as an emergency condition
Section 1903(v)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(v)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following flush sentence:
Such term includes any indication that an alien described in paragraph (1) may have contracted COVID–19.
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