[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7647 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7647
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide
guidance to State Medicaid agencies, public housing agencies,
Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies on connecting Medicaid
beneficiaries with housing-related services and supports under Medicaid
and other housing resources, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 13, 2024
Ms. Barragan (for herself, Ms. Slotkin, Ms. Chu, Mr. Horsford, Ms. Lee
of California, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Porter,
Mr. Raskin, Mr. Takano, Mr. Thanedar, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Khanna,
Ms. Balint, and Mrs. Hayes) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to
the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide
guidance to State Medicaid agencies, public housing agencies,
Continuums of Care, and housing finance agencies on connecting Medicaid
beneficiaries with housing-related services and supports under Medicaid
and other housing resources, 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 ``Housing Alignment and Coordination
of Critical and Effective Supportive health Services Act'' or the
``Housing ACCESS Act''.
SEC. 2. GUIDANCE TO STATES ON CONNECTING MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES WITH
HOUSING-RELATED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AND OTHER HOUSING
RESOURCES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 12 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and
the Secretary of Treasury, shall issue guidance to State Medicaid
agencies, public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing
finance agencies to connect individuals who are receiving medical
assistance under a State Medicaid program to Medicaid housing-related
services and supports and other housing resources in an integrated
manner.
(b) Required Information.--The guidance issued pursuant to
subsection (a) shall include information on--
(1) simplifying health care services for housing and
homelessness service providers and simplifying housing support
services for health care service providers to understand the
respective sectors;
(2) developing a memorandum of understanding between State
Medicaid agencies, public housing agencies, Continuums of Care,
and housing finance agencies that--
(A) coordinates housing-related services and
supports provided under a State Medicaid program with
other housing resources by aligning--
(i) eligibility criteria;
(ii) eligibility determination processes;
and
(iii) outcome measures, including housing
stability and health outcomes disaggregated by
race;
(B) encourages providers of housing-related
services and supports to seek reimbursement for such
services and supports through the State Medicaid
program, including by--
(i) explaining how such providers may
receive such reimbursement;
(ii) helping such providers understand the
eligibility determination process for housing-
related services and supports offered under the
State Medicaid program; and
(iii) providing guidance with respect to
tracking common outcome measures, including
housing stability and health outcomes
disaggregated by race; and
(3) existing authorities under which a State Medicaid
program may make Federal funds available to providers of
housing-related services and supports to build information
technology and financial systems and establish adequate
infrastructure and staffing levels to seek Medicaid
reimbursement.
(c) Reporting.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and
the Secretary of Treasury, shall submit a report to Congress that
includes--
(1) information on the progress of State Medicaid agencies,
public housing agencies, Continuums of Care, and housing
finance agencies in aligning eligibility criteria, eligibility
determination processes, and outcome tracking;
(2) information on the adoption by such agencies and
Continuums of Care of recommendations made in the guidance
issued pursuant to subsection (a); and
(3) feedback from States on such guidance and challenges
faced by States in connecting individuals receiving medical
assistance under a State Medicaid program with housing-related
services and supports and other housing resources.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Continuum of care.--The term ``Continuum of Care'' has
the meaning given such term in section 578.3 of title 24, Code
of Federal Regulations.
(2) State medicaid program.--The term ``State Medicaid
program'' means a State plan for medical assistance under title
XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), and
includes any waiver of such a plan.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL RATE STUDY ON THE COST OF HOUSING-RELATED SERVICES AND
SUPPORTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a
national rate study on the cost of housing-related services and
supports to determine appropriate rates for such services and supports
that will allow providers of such services and supports to pay living
wages, reduce staff turnover, and ensure a maximum case manager-to-
client ratio of 1:15 in alignment with the evidence-base for strong
supportive housing outcomes. Such study shall include an analysis of
reimbursement rates for services provided by certified community
behavioral health clinics (as such term is used in section 223 of the
Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (42 U.S.C. 1396a note)) and
Federally-qualified health centers (as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B)
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B))) that promote
integrated care, which may include, but is not limited to, housing-
related supports and services, and serve people with complex
conditions.
(b) Publication.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish the results of the
study conducted under this section as guidance to State Medicaid
agencies.
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