HB 298 — An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, providing for waivers to be requested for medical assistance.

PRINTER'S NO.    242

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 298
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY STAMBAUGH, ROAE, HAMM, FLICK, KAUFFMAN AND GROVE,
        JANUARY 23, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, JANUARY 23, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
 2      act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
 3      welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance,
 4      providing for waivers to be requested for medical assistance.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.    The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
 8   as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding a section to
 9   read:
10      Section 443.16.    Waivers to be Requested for Medical
11   Assistance.--(a)    The department shall request Federal approval
12   from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the
13   United States Department of Health and Human Services for a
14   demonstration waiver under 42 U.S.C. § 1315 (relating to
15   demonstration projects) to enable the department to:
16      (1)   Prohibit re-enrollment and deny eligibility for up to
17   six months for nondisabled, nonpregnant adults between nineteen
18   and sixty-four years of age who fail to report changes in
19   circumstances that affect their eligibility for medical
 1   assistance.
 2      (2)    Redetermine the medical assistance eligibility of an
 3   individual covered under this waiver once every six months
 4   instead of once every twelve months.
 5      (3)    Suspend the medical assistance requirement to renew
 6   eligibility automatically based on available information and
 7   suspend the medical assistance requirement to use a prepopulated
 8   renewal form.
 9      (b)    The following shall apply to approval:
10      (1)    The department shall report receipt of approval of any
11   waiver submitted under subsection (a) to:
12      (i)    The Attorney General.
13      (ii)    The Auditor General.
14      (iii)    The Office of Inspector General.
15      (iv)    The members of the General Assembly.
16      (v)    The Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the
17   next available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin of the notice
18   of approval of the waiver.
19      (2)    The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement
20   and administer this section.
21      (c)    If Federal approval for any waiver under subsection (a)
22   is denied, the department shall resubmit a request for approval
23   of the waiver within twenty-four months of the original denial
24   and each subsequent denial thereafter.
25      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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