Safeguarding Medicaid Act
Sponsored By: Senator John Barrasso
Introduced
Summary
This bill would expand _nationwide asset verification for Medicaid_ and add a resources-based eligibility test tied to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) limits. It would also require federal tracking of any savings and new state reporting and enforcement steps.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Nationwide Medicaid asset checks start
If enacted, the bill would expand federal asset checks to all Medicaid applicants and recipients in every State and territory. The change would take effect one year after enactment. States would have a one-year phase-in to submit and run an electronic asset verification plan and may start earlier. The HHS Secretary could delay a State's start for up to 365 days for economic hardship. The Secretary would issue rules needed to implement these changes.
New asset test for Medicaid
If enacted, the bill would require States to apply a resources (asset) test when deciding Medicaid eligibility. States would deny eligibility when an individual's resources, as measured for SSI under section 1613, exceed the SSI resource limit or a State-set alternative. The bill would also insert "or resources" into continuous eligibility language so States consider assets as well as income. These resource rules would take effect two years after enactment. The rule would not change continuous eligibility rules for pregnant and postpartum women or children under 19.
Federal Medicaid tracking and enforcement
If enacted, HHS would have to build a federal system to track Federal Medicaid savings from the asset verification program within two years. States would begin submitting public PERM-year reports starting the first year after enactment. Reports must list renewals started, asset checks done, beneficiaries renewed (total and ex parte), asset checks on new applications, and applicants found eligible after checks. HHS would set similar but reasonable rules for territories. The Secretary could assess State compliance and require corrective action plans with 90-day submission, 90-day review, and 90-day implementation deadlines.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
John Barrasso
WY • R
Cosponsors
John Kennedy
LA • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
James Lankford
OK • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Roger Wicker
MS • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Cynthia Lummis
WY • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Marsha Blackburn
TN • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Roger Marshall
KS • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Rick Scott
FL • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Steve Daines
MT • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Eric Schmitt
MO • R
Sponsored 3/24/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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