HSB 500 (LSB 5554YC (3) 90)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON MEYER)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the Medicaid extended postpartum coverage option, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 249A.3, subsection 1, paragraph h, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   h.  Is a woman who, while pregnant, meets eligibility requirements for assistance under the federal Social Security Act, section 1902(l), and continues to meet the requirements except for income. The woman is eligible to receive assistance until sixty days twelve months after the date pregnancy ends.
    Sec. 2.  MEDICAID —— PREGNANT WOMEN —— CONTINUOUS POSTPARTUM COVERAGE —— STATE PLAN AMENDMENT.  The department of health and human services shall submit a Medicaid state plan amendment to the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services of the United States department of health and human services (CMS) for approval of the option to provide twelve months of continuous postpartum coverage under the Medicaid program to pregnant women enrolled in the Medicaid program in accordance with sections 9812 and 9822 of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Pub. L. No. 117-2, as amended by section 5113 of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. The department shall notify the Code editor upon receipt of federal approval of the Medicaid state plan amendment.
    Sec. 3.  IMPLEMENTATION.  The section of this Act amending section 249A.3, subsection 1, paragraph “h”, shall be implemented upon receipt by the department of health and human services of federal approval of the state plan amendment submitted by the department as specified in this Act.
    Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  The following, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment:
   The section of this Act directing the department of health and human services to submit a state plan amendment to CMS as specified in this Act.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill provides for the extension of postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months for pregnant women enrolled in the Medicaid program.
   Code section 249A.3(1)(h) provides Medicaid eligibility for a woman who while pregnant meets federally required eligibility requirements and continues to meet those requirements, except for income, to receive assistance until 60 days after pregnancy ends. Provisions of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) provide the option to states to submit a state plan amendment, effective for a five-year period, to provide postpartum Medicaid coverage for 12 months after the end of a pregnancy. A provision under the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 removed the five-year limitation period for the state plan amendment. The bill amends Code section 249A.3(1)(h) to extend postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months after pregnancy ends.
   The bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to submit a Medicaid state plan amendment to the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services of the United States department of health and human services for approval in accordance with the provisions in federal law to provide continuous eligibility to a pregnant women until 12 months after pregnancy ends under the Medicaid program.
   The section of the bill directing HHS to submit a state plan amendment to the federal government for approval takes effect upon enactment. The section of the bill amending Code provisions relating to postpartum Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women takes effect July 1, 2024, and shall be implemented upon receipt of federal approval by HHS.