Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act
This bill requires state Medicaid programs to establish a process through which qualifying out-of-state providers may enroll as participating providers without undergoing additional screening requirements. Among other things, a qualifying provider must (1) serve minors, or adults whose condition began as a minor; and (2) have previously been screened for Medicare participation or for participation in the Medicaid program of the state in which the provider is located.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1544 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1544
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to streamline enrollment
under the Medicaid program of certain providers across State lines, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 11, 2021
Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Portman)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to streamline enrollment
under the Medicaid program of certain providers across State lines, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Accelerating Kids' Access to Care
Act''.
SEC. 2. STREAMLINED ENROLLMENT PROCESS FOR ELIGIBLE OUT-OF-STATE
PROVIDERS UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 1902(kk) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396a(kk)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(10) Streamlined enrollment process for eligible out-of-
state providers.--
``(A) In general.--The State adopts and implements
a process that enables an eligible out-of-State
provider to enroll as a provider in the State plan
without the imposition of additional screening
requirements by the State. An eligible out-of-State
provider that enrolls in the State plan through such
process shall be so enrolled for a 5-year period and
may revalidate such enrollment through such process for
subsequent 5-year periods.
``(B) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Eligible out-of-state provider.--The
term `eligible out-of-State provider' means,
with respect to a State, a provider--
``(I) that furnishes to qualifying
individuals any item or service for
which payment is available under the
State plan of the State;
``(II) that is located in any other
State;
``(III) with respect to which the
Secretary has determined there is a
limited risk of fraud, waste, or abuse
for purposes of determining the level
of screening to be conducted under
section 1866(j)(2)(B);
``(IV) that has been screened under
such section 1866(j)(2)(B) for purposes
of enrolling in the Medicare program
under title XVIII or the State plan of
the State in which such provider is
located; and
``(V) that has not been excluded
from participation in the Medicare
program under such title or the
Medicaid program under this title.
``(ii) Qualifying individual.--The term
`qualifying individual' means, with respect to
an eligible out-of-State provider--
``(I) an individual under 18 years
of age to whom the provider furnishes
items and services for the treatment of
a condition; and
``(II) an individual 18 years of
age or older to whom the provider
furnishes items and services for the
treatment of a condition that onset
before such individual attained 18
years of age.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 1902(a)(77) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396a(a)(77)) is amended by inserting ``enrollment,''
after ``screening,''.
(2) Section 1902(kk) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(kk)), as
amended by subsection (a), is further amended--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting
``Enrollment,'' after ``Screening,''; and
(B) in paragraph (9), by striking ``Nothing'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (10),
nothing''.
(3) Section 2107(e)(1)(G) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
1397gg(e)(1)(G)) is amended by inserting ``enrollment,'' after
``screening,''.
(c) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
amendments made by this section take effect on January 1, 2022.
(2) Exception for state legislation.--In the case of a
State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or a State child health plan under title
XXI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.) which the Secretary
of Health and Human Services determines requires State
legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in
order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed
by the amendments made by this section, such State plan or
State child health plan shall not be regarded as failing to
comply with the requirements of such title XIX or title XXI,
respectively, solely on the basis of its failure to meet these
additional requirements before the first day of the first
calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular
session of the State legislature that begins after the date of
the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the previous
sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative
session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a
separate regular session of the State legislature.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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