Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Bilirakis
Introduced
Summary
Keeps Medicaid paying for medically necessary services for foster children placed in qualified residential treatment programs (QRTPs). This bill would create an exemption to the Medicaid institution for mental disease (IMD) exclusion so Medicaid can cover items and services furnished to foster children in QRTPs, effective for calendar quarters beginning on or after October 1, 2026.
Show full summary
- Families and children: Foster children placed in a QRTP would remain able to receive Medicaid-covered medical and behavioral services while in care.
- State Medicaid programs: States could bill Medicaid for covered services in QRTPs regardless of whether payments are made under section 472 of the Social Security Act.
- QRTPs and providers: Qualified residential treatment programs and their treatment providers could receive Medicaid payment for covered items and services for eligible foster children during placement.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Medicaid coverage for foster kids
If enacted, this bill would let Medicaid pay for items and services for children in state foster care who are placed in a qualified residential treatment program (QRTP). It would exempt those services from the Medicaid institution for mental disease (IMD) exclusion so care in a QRTP could be billed to Medicaid. Coverage would apply without regard to whether payments are made for the child under section 472. The change would apply to services furnished in calendar quarters beginning on or after October 1, 2026, and families would likely pay less out of pocket for covered behavioral health care.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bilirakis
FL • R
Cosponsors
Brownley
CA • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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