[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1114 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1114
To increase vaccination rates among pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid
or CHIP, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 14, 2021
Ms. Hassan (for herself and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To increase vaccination rates among pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid
or CHIP, 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 ``Maternal Immunization Enhancement
Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Adult health quality measures.--The term ``Adult Health
Quality Measures'' means the core set of adult health quality
measures developed and published under section 1139B of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-9b).
(2) Child health quality measures.--The term ``Child Health
Quality Measures'' means the core set of child health quality
measures developed and published under section 1139A of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-9a).
(3) CHIP.--The term ``CHIP'' means the Children's Health
Insurance Program established under title XXI of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.) and includes any
waivers of such program.
(4) Medicaid.--The term ``Medicaid'' means the medical
assistance program established under title XIX of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) and includes any waivers
of such program.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given that
term for purposes of title XIX of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
SEC. 3. CMS GUIDANCE ON INCREASING VACCINATION RATES AMONG PREGNANT
WOMEN ENROLLED IN MEDICAID OR CHIP.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, in consultation with the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, shall issue guidance to States on increasing
the vaccination rates for Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
recommended vaccines among pregnant and postpartum women enrolled in
Medicaid or CHIP. The guidance issued under this subsection shall be
updated as necessary not later than 5 years after the date of enactment
of this Act in consultation with the Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and the results of the report to
Congress required under section 5 by the Comptroller General of the
United States.
(b) Requirements.--The guidance issued under subsection (a) (and
any update of such guidance) shall at a minimum include options and
best practices for--
(1) increasing the vaccination rates for Advisory Committee
on Immunization Practices recommended vaccines among pregnant
women, particularly with respect to the influenza, diphtheria,
tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) vaccines;
(2) ways in which States may obtain Federal matching
payments under Medicaid and CHIP for obtaining and
administering such recommended vaccines to pregnant and
postpartum women, and recommendations for improving provider
participation under Medicaid and CHIP with respect to obtaining
and administering such recommended vaccines to pregnant and
postpartum women; and
(3) ways in which State Medicaid programs may amplify
Federal, State, and local health department recommendations on
providing counseling and patient outreach and education
regarding such vaccines.
SEC. 4. INCLUSION OF PRENATAL IMMUNIZATION STATUS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN
QUALITY MEASURE IN THE CORE SETS OF HEALTH CARE QUALITY
MEASURES FOR CHILDREN ENROLLED IN MEDICAID OR CHIP AND
ADULTS ENROLLED IN MEDICAID.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, and after consulting with the stakeholders described in
section 1139A(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-
9a(b)(3)), the Secretary shall consider adding a prenatal immunization
status for pregnant women quality measure in either the--
(1) Child's Health Quality Measures; or
(2) Adult Health Quality Measures.
(b) Requirement.--If the Secretary includes a prenatal immunization
status for pregnant women quality measure in either such core set of
health quality measures, the quality measure shall measure the
percentage of deliveries in which pregnant women received vaccines
recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during pregnancy.
SEC. 5. GAO REPORT.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to
Congress on the vaccination rates among pregnant women enrolled in
Medicaid or CHIP with respect to the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices vaccines recommended for pregnant women. To the extent data
are available, the report shall include the following:
(1) The percentage of pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid
or CHIP who did not receive vaccines paid for by Medicaid or
CHIP as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices while pregnant.
(2) To the extent practicable, an analysis of whether
structural barriers, such as cost sharing or other specific
requirements, are imposed under Medicaid or CHIP which impact
the vaccination rates among pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid
or CHIP with respect to the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices vaccines recommended for pregnant women.
(3) To the extent practicable, an analysis of the reasons
why women enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP do not receive such
recommended vaccines recommended while pregnant.
(4) To the extent practicable, demographic details
regarding the population of pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid
or CHIP, including race, ethnicity, and rural or urban
geographic location.
(5) As the Comptroller General deems appropriate,
recommendations for legislative or administrative actions
relating to increasing the vaccination rates among pregnant
women enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP with respect to the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices vaccines recommended for
pregnant women.
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