Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§1320b–14 Outreach Efforts to Increase Awareness of the Availability of Medicare Cost-sharing and Subsidies for Low-income Individuals Under Subchapter Xviii
Title 42 › CHAPTER 7 — SOCIAL SECURITY › SUBCHAPTER XI — GENERAL PROVISIONS, PEER REVIEW, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICATION › Part A — General Provisions › § 1320b–14
Summary
The Social Security Commissioner must find and tell people on Medicare who might qualify for help paying Medicare bills. That help includes Medicaid payment of Medicare cost-sharing, transitional assistance, and low-income premium and cost-sharing subsidies. Any notice must say the person may need to give the State information about income and resources (if the State has an assets test) and must meet the eligibility rules to get help. The Commissioner must give each State’s Medicaid agency the names and addresses of people who may be eligible and update that list at least once a year, including people who had reductions in Social Security benefits. When someone applies for or asks about the low-income subsidy, the Social Security Administration must give information about the subsidy and the Medicare Savings Program, provide the subsidy application, help people complete it on request, make materials available at local SSA offices, and (with the person’s consent) electronically send application data to the State to start a Medicare Savings Program application beginning January 1, 2010. SSA staff must be trained to help. Funding was provided: $24,100,000 available October 1, 2008 for initial Medicare Savings Program costs and $24,800,000 for fiscal year 2009 for low-income subsidy work. Starting in fiscal year 2011, the Commissioner and the HHS Secretary must have a funding agreement and up to $3,000,000 per year is appropriated for payments to SSA; SSA may not use its regular administrative funds for these activities without that agreement and full funding. The Government Accountability Office must study the impact and report by January 1, 2012. Medicare Savings Program: Medicaid help that pays Medicare cost-sharing.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §1320b–14
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Outreach
(1)In general
The Commissioner of Social Security (in this section referred to as the “Commissioner”) shall conduct outreach efforts to—
(A)identify individuals entitled to benefits under the medicare program under subchapter XVIII who may be eligible for medical assistance for payment of the cost of medicare cost-sharing under the medicaid program pursuant to section 1396a(a)(10)(E) and 1396u–3 of this title for the transitional assistance under section 1395w–141(f) of this title, or for premium and cost-sharing subsidies under section 1395w–114 of this title; and
(B)notify such individuals of the availability of such medical assistance, program, and subsidies under such sections.
(2)Content of notice
Any notice furnished under paragraph (1) shall state that eligibility for medicare cost-sharing assistance, the transitional assistance under section 1395w–141(f) of this title, or premium and cost-sharing subsidies under section 1395w–114 of this title under such sections is conditioned upon—
(A)the individual providing to the State information about income and resources (in the case of an individual residing in a State that imposes an assets test for eligibility for medicare cost-sharing under the medicaid program); and
(B)meeting the applicable eligibility criteria.
(b)Coordination with States
(1)In general
In conducting the outreach efforts under this section, the Commissioner shall—
(A)furnish the agency of each State responsible for the administration of the medicaid program and any other appropriate State agency with information consisting of the name and address of individuals residing in the State that the Commissioner determines may be eligible for medical assistance for payment of the cost of medicare cost-sharing under the medicaid program pursuant to section 1396a(a)(10)(E) and 1396u–3 of this title, for transitional assistance under section 1395w–141(f) of this title, or for premium and cost-sharing subsidies for low-income individuals under section 1395w–114 of this title; and
(B)update any such information not less frequently than once per year.
(2)Information in periodic updates
The periodic updates described in paragraph (1)(B) shall include information on individuals who are or may be eligible for the medical assistance, program, and subsidies described in paragraph (1)(A) because such individuals have experienced reductions in benefits under subchapter II.
(c)Assistance with Medicare Savings Program and low-income subsidy program applications
(1)Distribution of applications and information to individuals who are potentially eligible for low-income subsidy program
For each individual who submits an application for low-income subsidies under section 1395w–114 of this title, requests an application for such subsidies, or is otherwise identified as an individual who is potentially eligible for such subsidies, the Commissioner shall do the following:
(A)Provide information describing the low-income subsidy program under section 1395w–114 of this title and the Medicare Savings Program (as defined in paragraph (7)).
(B)Provide an application for enrollment under such low-income subsidy program (if not already received by the Commissioner).
(C)In accordance with paragraph (3), transmit data from such an application for purposes of initiating an application for benefits under the Medicare Savings Program.
(D)Provide information on how the individual may obtain assistance in completing such application and an application under the Medicare Savings Program, including information on how the individual may contact the State health insurance assistance program (SHIP).
(E)Make the application described in subparagraph (B) and the information described in subparagraphs (A) and (D) available at local offices of the Social Security Administration.
(2)Training personnel in explaining benefit programs and assisting in completing LIS application
The Commissioner shall provide training to those employees of the Social Security Administration who are involved in receiving applications for benefits described in paragraph (1)(B) in order that they may promote beneficiary understanding of the low-income subsidy program and the Medicare Savings Program in order to increase participation in these programs. Such employees shall provide assistance in completing an application described in paragraph (1)(B) upon request.
(3)Transmittal of data to States
Beginning on January 1, 2010, with the consent of an individual completing an application for benefits described in paragraph (1)(B), the Commissioner shall electronically transmit to the appropriate State Medicaid agency data from such application, as determined by the Commissioner, which transmittal shall initiate an application of the individual for benefits under the Medicare Savings Program with the State Medicaid agency. In order to ensure that such data transmittal provides effective assistance for purposes of State adjudication of applications for benefits under the Medicare Savings Program, the Commissioner shall consult with the Secretary, after the Secretary has consulted with the States, regarding the content, form, frequency, and manner in which data (on a uniform basis for all States) shall be transmitted under this subparagraph.
(4)Coordination with outreach
The Commissioner shall coordinate outreach activities under this subsection in connection with the low-income subsidy program and the Medicare Savings Program.
(5)Reimbursement of Social Security Administration administrative costs
(A)Initial Medicare Savings Program costs; additional low-income subsidy costs
(i)Initial Medicare Savings Program costs
There are hereby appropriated to the Commissioner to carry out this subsection, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $24,100,000. The amount appropriated under ths clause shall be available on October 1, 2008, and shall remain available until expended.
(ii)Additional amount for low-income subsidy activities
There are hereby appropriated to the Commissioner, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $24,800,000 for fiscal year 2009 to carry out low-income subsidy activities under section 1395w–114 of this title and the Medicare Savings Program (in accordance with this subsection), to remain available until expended. Such funds shall be in addition to the Social Security Administration’s Limitation on Administrative Expenditure appropriations for such fiscal year.
(B)Subsequent funding under agreements
(i)In general
Effective for fiscal years beginning on or after October 1, 2010, the Commissioner and the Secretary shall enter into an agreement which shall provide funding (subject to the amount appropriated under clause (ii)) to cover the administrative costs of the Commissioner’s activities under this subsection. Such agreement shall—
(I)provide funds to the Commissioner for the full cost of the Social Security Administration’s work related to the Medicare Savings Program required under this section;
(II)provide such funding quarterly in advance of the applicable quarter based on estimating methodology agreed to by the Commissioner and the Secretary; and
(III)require an annual accounting and reconciliation of the actual costs incurred and funds provided under this subsection.
(ii)Appropriation
There are hereby appropriated to the Secretary solely for the purpose of providing payments to the Commissioner pursuant to an agreement specified in clause (i) that is in effect, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, not more than $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter.
(C)Limitation
In no case shall funds from the Social Security Administration’s Limitation on Administrative Expenses be used to carry out activities related to the Medicare Savings Program. For fiscal years beginning on or after October 1, 2010, no such activities shall be undertaken by the Social Security Administration unless the agreement specified in subparagraph (B) is in effect and full funding has been provided to the Commissioner as specified in such subparagraph.
(6)GAO analysis and report
(A)Analysis
The Comptroller General of the United States shall prepare an analysis of the impact of this subsection— (i)
(ii)on States and the Social Security Administration.
(B)Report
Not later than January 1, 2012, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress, the Commissioner, and the Secretary a report on the analysis conducted under subparagraph (A).
(7)Medicare Savings Program defined
For purposes of this subsection, the term “Medicare Savings Program” means the program of medical assistance for payment of the cost of medicare cost-sharing under the Medicaid program pursuant to section 1396a(a)(10)(E) and 1396u–3 of this title.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 1320b–14, act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XI, § 1144, as added Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13581(a), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 609; Pub. L. 105–34, title XV, § 1503(e), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1063, related to Medicare and Medicaid Coverage Data Bank, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–226, § 1(a), Oct. 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 3033.
Amendments
2008—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–275 added subsec. (c). 2003—Pub. L. 108–173, § 103(g)(1), inserted “and subsidies for low-income individuals under subchapter XVIII” after “cost-sharing” in section catchline. Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 108–173, § 103(g)(2)(A)(i), inserted “for the transitional assistance under section 1395w–141(f) of this title, or for premium and cost-sharing subsidies under section 1395w–114 of this title” before semicolon. Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 108–173, § 103(g)(2)(A)(ii), inserted “, program, and subsidies” after “medical assistance”. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 108–173, § 103(g)(2)(B)(i), inserted “, the transitional assistance under section 1395w–141(f) of this title, or premium and cost-sharing subsidies under section 1395w–114 of this title” after “assistance” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 108–173, § 103(g)(2)(B)(ii), substituted “eligibility for medicare cost-sharing under the medicaid program” for “such eligibility”. Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 108–173, § 103(g)(3)(A), inserted “, for transitional assistance under section 1395w–141(f) of this title, or for premium and cost-sharing subsidies for low-income individuals under section 1395w–114 of this title” after “1396u–3 of this title”. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 108–173, § 103(g)(3)(B), inserted “, program, and subsidies” after “medical assistance”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2008 Amendment Pub. L. 110–275, title I, § 113(c), July 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 2506, provided that: “Except as otherwise provided, the
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and section 1396u–5 of this title] shall take effect on January 1, 2010.”
Effective Date
Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(6) [title IX, § 911(c)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–584, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by subsection (a) [enacting this section and amending section 1396d of this title] shall take effect one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 21, 2000].” GAO Report Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(6) [title IX, § 911(b)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–584, required the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study of the impact of this section on the enrollment of individuals for medicare cost-sharing under the medicaid program and to submit a report on the study no later than 18 months after the initial outreach.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1320b–14
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110