Direct Support Worker Training Reimbursement Act

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5179 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5179

   To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide enhanced 
Federal matching payments for direct support worker training programs, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 25, 2024

  Mr. King (for himself and Mr. Casey) 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 provide enhanced 
Federal matching payments for direct support worker training programs, 
                        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 ``Direct Support Worker Training 
Reimbursement Act''.

SEC. 2. MEDICAID FUNDING FOR DIRECT SUPPORT WORKER TRAINING PROGRAMS.

    Section 1903 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2), by adding at the end the 
        following new subparagraph:
            ``(F) for calendar quarters beginning on or after January 
        1, 2025, an amount equal to 75 percent of so much of the sums 
        expended during such quarter for direct support worker training 
        programs described in subsection (cc) (including the costs for 
        eligible direct support workers (as defined in such subsection) 
        to complete such programs); plus''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(cc) Direct Support Worker Training Programs.--
            ``(1) In general.--A direct support worker training program 
        described in this subsection is a program approved by the State 
        under which eligible homecare workers are provided with--
                    ``(A) training in the core training competencies 
                for personal or home care aides described in section 
                2008(b)(3)(A); and
                    ``(B) opportunities for education, training, and 
                career advancement.
            ``(2) Eligible direct support worker.--The term `eligible 
        direct support worker' means a personal or home care aide (as 
        such term is defined in section 2008(b)(6)(C)), a direct 
        support worker, a home health aide, a nursing assistant, or a 
        direct support professional who--
                    ``(A) has at least 30 percent of the worker's 
                direct support client volume (as estimated in 
                accordance with a methodology established by the 
                Secretary) attributable to individuals who are 
                receiving medical assistance under this title; or
                    ``(B) is employed by an agency that is a provider 
                of direct support services that has at least 30 percent 
                of the agency's direct support client volume (as so 
                estimated) attributable to such individuals.''.
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