Index for HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Stark, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Andrews) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, 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

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

(a) In general.—Not later than 12 months after date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue guidance regarding standards and best practices for conducting outreach to inform eligible individuals about healthcare coverage under Medicaid under title XIX of the Social Security Act or for child health assistance under CHIP under title XXI of such Act, providing assistance to such individuals for enrollment in applicable programs, and establishing methods or procedures for eliminating application and enrollment barriers. Such guidance shall include provisions to ensure that outreach, enrollment assistance, and administrative simplification efforts are targeted specifically to vulnerable populations such as children, unaccompanied homeless youth, victims of abuse or trauma, individuals with mental health or substance related disorders, and individuals with HIV/AIDS. Guidance issued pursuant to this section relating to methods to increase outreach and enrollment provided for under titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act shall specifically target such vulnerable and underserved populations and shall include, but not be limited to, guidance on outstationing of eligibility workers, express lane eligibility, residence requirements, documentation of income and assets, presumptive eligibility, continuous eligibility, and automatic renewal.

(b) Implementation.—In implementing the requirements under subsection (a), the Secretary may use such authorities as are available under law and may work with such entities as the Secretary deems appropriate to facilitate effective implementation of such programs. Not later than 2 years after the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall review and report to Congress on progress in implementing targeted outreach, application and enrollment assistance, and administrative simplification methods for such vulnerable and underserved populations as are specified in subsection (a).