Think Differently Database Act

[118th Congress Public Law 225]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 138 STAT. 2817]]

Public Law 118-225
118th Congress

                                 An Act


 
  To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a 
website to promote awareness of available resources for individuals with 
  disabilities, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Jan. 4, 2025 -  [H.R. 
                                 670]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Think 
Differently Database Act. 42 USC 1396 note.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Think Differently Database Act''.
SEC. 2. PROMOTING AWARENESS OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS 
                    WITH DISABILITIES.

    (a) In General.-- <<NOTE: Deadline. Update. Public 
information.>> Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section 
referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall establish and update 
periodically a publicly available website to provide information with 
respect to resources and information for people with a disability and 
the caregivers and families of such people. Such website shall include--
            (1) information on eligibility to receive medical assistance 
        under a State plan under the Medicaid program under title XIX of 
        the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (or a waiver of 
        such plan) based on a disability, including general information 
        about eligibility under subclauses (XIII), (XV), (XVI), and 
        (XIX) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii));
            (2) which States offer eligibility under subclauses (XIII), 
        (XV), (XVI), and (XIX) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii));
            (3) each State's specific eligibility requirements, if 
        applicable, under subclauses (XIII), (XV), (XVI), and (XIX) of 
        section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii));
            (4) information about how to contact each State's Medicaid 
        office for information about Medicaid, including links and phone 
        numbers for State contacts;
            (5) general information on Medicaid-covered long-term 
        services and supports that may be available to individuals 
        eligible for medical assistance under a State plan under the 
        Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (or a waiver of such plan); and
            (6) where applicable, the average amount of time that 
        individuals newly enrolled in a State's waiver program for home 
        and community-based services in the past 12 months

[[Page 138 STAT. 2818]]

        were on the list of individuals waiting to enroll in such waiver 
        program, in such a manner and process as described in section 
        441.311(d)(1)(iii) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations.

    (b) Promotion.--The Secretary shall, as applicable and appropriate, 
identify and disseminate promotional activities to improve, among people 
with a disability and the caretakers and families of such people, the 
awareness of the resources included in the website established under 
subsection (a), such as through collaboration with the Social Security 
Administration during its annual updates to the Red Book.
    (c) Model.--In establishing the website under this section, the 
Secretary may use the website thinkdifferently.net as a model.
    (d) Nonapplication of Paperwork Reduction Act.--Chapter 35 of title 
44, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995''), shall not apply to the implementation of this 
section.

    Approved January 4, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 670:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 118-874 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):
            Dec. 17, considered and passed House.
            Dec. 20, considered and passed Senate.

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