Sec. 203. Direct certification for programs with overlapping eligibility

1,275 words·~6 min read·/bill/114/s/473/is/section-203

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Section 1902(e) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(e) ) is amended— by redesignating the paragraph

(14)added by section 3(c)(1) of Public Law 111–255 as paragraph (16); and by inserting after the paragraph

(14)added by section 2002 of Public Law 111–148 the following: Each State plan approved under this title must provide that a child described in subparagraph

(B)shall be deemed to have applied for medical assistance and to have been found eligible for such assistance under the State plan under this title, without further application, as of the date the State agency responsible for administering the State plan under this title receives certification from a State agency conducting eligibility determinations for a program referred to in subparagraph

(B)that the child has been determined eligible for that program. A child directly certified as eligible for medical assistance under this paragraph shall remain eligible for such assistance for a period of one year. The children described in this subparagraph are the following: A child who is a member of a household receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. A child who is eligible to participate in a Head Start program under section 645, or a child under age 3 who is eligible to participate in an Early Head Start program under section 645A(c), of the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9840 , 9840a(c)). . Section 1902(e)(13) ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(13) ) is amended— in subparagraph (A), by adding at the end the following new clause: At the option of the State, the State may apply the provisions of this paragraph with respect to determining eligibility under this title for a pregnant woman. In applying this paragraph in the case of a State electing such an option, any reference in this paragraph to a child with respect to this title (other than a reference to child health assistance) shall be deemed to be a reference to a pregnant woman. ; in subparagraph (G), by adding at the end the following new sentence: Notwithstanding the age limit specified in the preceding sentence, such term includes an individual described in subsection (a)(10)(A)(i)(IX) and, at the option of the State, an individual described in section 2110(c)(1)(B). ; and by striking subparagraph (I). The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— encourage State Medicaid programs to adopt procedures that simplify and increase the options for children to apply for medical assistance, and the options for children to reapply and renew their eligibility for such assistance, including by encouraging States to allow applications to be made online, in person, and over the telephone and to enter into agreements with other State agencies that administer low-income assistance programs for children under which the State Medicaid agency will not require original documentation for renewal of a child's eligibility for medical assistance, or for reenrollment of a child in the Medicaid program, if original documents supporting the child's eligibility was provided to another State agency within the most recent 12-month period; identify best practices of State Medicaid programs for simplified enrollment, renewal, and reenrollment of eligible children; and make available to directors of State Medicaid agencies a description of the best practices. Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2020 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: Each State agency shall establish procedures that ensure that any household that contains is a child who is eligible to participate in a Head Start program under section 645, or a child under age 3 who is eligible to participate in an Early Head Start program under section 645A(c), of the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9840 , 9840a(c)), shall be certified to receive benefits under this Act without further application. . Section 9(b)(4) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(4) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary shall— review the manner in which State agencies enter into agreements and establish procedures described in subparagraph

(B)and local educational agencies conduct certifications under subparagraph (C); identify best practices; and make available to States, State agencies, and local educational agencies a description of the best practices. . Section 9(b)(15) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(15) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: In this subparagraph, the term without further application has the meaning given the term in paragraph (4)(G). For the school year beginning on July 1, 2016, and each subsequent school year, each State agency shall enter into an agreement with the 1 or more State agencies conducting eligibility determinations for the Medicaid program. Subject to paragraph (6), the agreement shall establish procedures under which an eligible child shall be certified as eligible for free lunches under this Act and free breakfasts under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ), without further application. Subject to paragraph (6), under the agreement the local educational agency conducting eligibility determinations for a school lunch program under this Act and a school breakfast program under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq. ) shall certify an eligible child as eligible for free lunches under this Act and free breakfasts under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ), without further application. The Secretary shall— review the manner in which State agencies entered into agreements and established procedures described in subparagraph

(C)and local educational agencies conducted certifications under subparagraph (D); identify best practices; and make available to States, State agencies, and local educational agencies a description of the best practices. . Section 11(e)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Assistance Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(1) ) is amended— in subparagraph (A), by striking and at the end; in subparagraph (B), by inserting and after the semicolon at the end; and by adding at the end the following: to the maximum extent practicable— increase flexibility for households applying to participate in the program, including allowing applications to be made online, in person, and over the telephone; and simplify any subsequent verification or reapplication procedures so as to maximize flexibility for applicant households; . Section 9(b)(3)(B) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(32)(B) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall— increase flexibility for households applying to receive free or reduced price school lunches under this Act or free or reduced price school breakfasts under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq. ), including allowing household applications to be made online, in person, and over the telephone; and simplify any subsequent verification or reapplication procedures so as to maximize flexibility for applicant households. . The Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture annually shall identify and rank States on the basis of their success in identifying and enrolling eligible children under the direct certification authorities and the options for increased flexibility for enrollment, renewal, and reenrollment of eligible children established under Medicaid ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ), the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq. ), the school breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ), and the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ).

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