Think Differently Database Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 670) to amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a clearinghouse on intellectual disabilities, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 670
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 ``Think Differently Database Act''. SEC. 2. PROMOTING AWARENESS OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall establish and update periodically a publicly available website to provide information with respect to resources and information for people with a disability and the caregivers and families of such people. Such website shall include--
(1) information on eligibility to receive medical assistance under a State plan under the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (or a waiver of such plan) based on a disability, including general information about eligibility under subclauses (XIII), (XV), (XVI), and (XIX) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii));
(2) which States offer eligibility under subclauses (XIII), (XV), (XVI), and (XIX) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii));
(3) each State's specific eligibility requirements, if applicable, under subclauses (XIII), (XV), (XVI), and (XIX) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii));
(4) information about how to contact each State's Medicaid office for information about Medicaid, including links and phone numbers for State contacts;
(5) general information on Medicaid-covered long-term services and supports that may be available to individuals eligible for medical assistance under a State plan under the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (or a waiver of such plan); and
(6) where applicable, the average amount of time that individuals newly enrolled in a State's waiver program for home and community-based services in the past 12 months were on the list of individuals waiting to enroll in such waiver program, in such a manner and process as described in section 441.311(d)(1)(iii) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations.
(b) Promotion.--The Secretary shall, as applicable and appropriate, identify and disseminate promotional activities to improve, among people with a disability and the caretakers and families of such people, the awareness of the resources included in the website established under subsection (a), such as through collaboration with the Social Security Administration during its annual updates to the Red Book.
(c) Model.--In establishing the website under this section, the Secretary may use the website thinkdifferently.net as a model.
(d) Nonapplication of Paperwork Reduction Act.--Chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995''), shall not apply to the implementation of this section.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 670, the Think Differently Database Act led by Representative Marcus Molinaro.
This legislation will make it easier for individuals with disabilities to understand what Medicaid covered services are available to them.
The Medicaid program provides health coverage to nearly 80 million people, and in 2021, an estimated 9.5 million people were enrolled in Medicaid on the basis of their disability.
As a jointly funded Federal-State program, Medicaid program eligibility and coverage can differ significantly from State to State. One caregiving report found that online information about caregiving services can be hard to find, confusing, inconsistent, and not consumer-oriented.
This bipartisan bill would direct HHS to establish a website that is designed to help people with disabilities determine their Medicaid eligibility, making it easier for them to get to the care they need.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Molinaro for his tireless work as a champion for people with disabilities.
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Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my good friend's leadership when he said everybody of every ability. He is here and he has served everybody in the 118th Congress. He is going to be missed and his leadership is going to be missed and we appreciate him very much.
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Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I, again, thank my good friend from the Hudson Valley, my Rockbound Highland home, who, unfortunately, didn't beat Navy this weekend. He is from a great area of our country, a beautiful place, and has well represented the Hudson Valley. I look forward to working together again at some point in some place.
Mr. Speaker, it is a great bill. I encourage a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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