Medicaid Program Improvement Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8111, which is sponsored by the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), as well as the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright).

Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill would require State Medicaid agencies to regularly obtain updated beneficiary address information from reliable sources, including Medicaid managed care plans. This requirement helps to accomplish two things.

First, when the time comes for a State Medicaid agency to renew a person's Medicaid eligibility, it is critical that the State has the most up-to-date address information. Too often, people lose Medicaid coverage for administrative reasons. Some people just don't return the paperwork for this reason, for example.

Some people simply never receive the notice that the State has sent to them indicating it was time to renew their healthcare coverage for Medicaid. Collecting and using updated address information from reliable sources helps States to reach people and renew their coverage.

The second thing is having updated address information helps States identify when an individual may have moved out of State, and this information could help States ensure payments are not made for beneficiaries who are no longer residents of the State.

Mr. Speaker, this is a straightforward policy that helps to address practical challenges for people and for State Medicaid agencies, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 8111.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. In closing, I would simply ask that Members vote for this bill on a bipartisan basis. It is important for Medicaid recipients.

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