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House File 211 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to Medicaid coverage for individuals lawfully
2residing in the state in accordance with the compacts of
3free association, and providing effective and applicability
4provisions.
5BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. MEDICAID COVERAGE — LAWFULLY RESIDING
2INDIVIDUALS — COMPACTS OF FREE ASSOCIATION. Beginning
3December 27, 2020, in accordance with division CC, Tit.II,
4section 208, of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act,
52021, Pub.L. No.116-260, the department of human services
6shall provide Medicaid coverage to any individual who lawfully
7resides in Iowa in accordance with the compacts of free
8association between the government of the United States and
9the governments of the Federated States of Micronesia, the
10Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
11The department shall seek federal financial participation for
12Medicaid coverage provided under this section retroactively to
13December 27, 2020.
14 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate
15importance, takes effect upon enactment.
16 Sec. 3. RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY. This Act applies
17retroactively to December 27, 2020.
18EXPLANATION
19The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
20the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
21This bill requires the department of human services (DHS),
22in accordance with federal law, to provide Medicaid coverage to
23individuals lawfully residing in the state in accordance with
24the compacts of free association (COFA) between the government
25of the United States and the governments of the Federated
26States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands,
27and the Republic of Palau. DHS shall seek federal financial
28participation for Medicaid coverage provided under the bill
29retroactively to December 27, 2020. The bill takes effect upon
30enactment and is retroactively applicable to December 27, 2020.
31The federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
32Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 did not include COFA
33migrants as “qualified non-citizens” for the purposes
34of Medicaid coverage, resulting in COFA migrants who had
35previously been eligible for Medicaid coverage no longer being
-1-1eligible. The federal Children’s Health Insurance Program
2Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) of 2009 provided an option to
3states to cover lawfully residing children under age 21 and
4pregnant women, including COFA migrants, under the Medicaid or
5Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The state elected
6to provide coverage to COFA migrants under age 21. The federal
7Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, effective December 27,
82020, requires all states to provide full Medicaid coverage
9to all COFA migrants who are otherwise eligible for Medicaid.
10Additionally, the five-year limitation on benefits imposed
11on some categories of immigrants does not apply to the COFA
12migrants under the federal law.
-2-pf/rh
2residing in the state in accordance with the compacts of
3free association, and providing effective and applicability
4provisions.
5BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. MEDICAID COVERAGE — LAWFULLY RESIDING
2INDIVIDUALS — COMPACTS OF FREE ASSOCIATION. Beginning
3December 27, 2020, in accordance with division CC, Tit.II,
4section 208, of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act,
52021, Pub.L. No.116-260, the department of human services
6shall provide Medicaid coverage to any individual who lawfully
7resides in Iowa in accordance with the compacts of free
8association between the government of the United States and
9the governments of the Federated States of Micronesia, the
10Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
11The department shall seek federal financial participation for
12Medicaid coverage provided under this section retroactively to
13December 27, 2020.
14 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate
15importance, takes effect upon enactment.
16 Sec. 3. RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY. This Act applies
17retroactively to December 27, 2020.
18EXPLANATION
19The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
20the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
21This bill requires the department of human services (DHS),
22in accordance with federal law, to provide Medicaid coverage to
23individuals lawfully residing in the state in accordance with
24the compacts of free association (COFA) between the government
25of the United States and the governments of the Federated
26States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands,
27and the Republic of Palau. DHS shall seek federal financial
28participation for Medicaid coverage provided under the bill
29retroactively to December 27, 2020. The bill takes effect upon
30enactment and is retroactively applicable to December 27, 2020.
31The federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
32Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 did not include COFA
33migrants as “qualified non-citizens” for the purposes
34of Medicaid coverage, resulting in COFA migrants who had
35previously been eligible for Medicaid coverage no longer being
-1-1eligible. The federal Children’s Health Insurance Program
2Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) of 2009 provided an option to
3states to cover lawfully residing children under age 21 and
4pregnant women, including COFA migrants, under the Medicaid or
5Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The state elected
6to provide coverage to COFA migrants under age 21. The federal
7Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, effective December 27,
82020, requires all states to provide full Medicaid coverage
9to all COFA migrants who are otherwise eligible for Medicaid.
10Additionally, the five-year limitation on benefits imposed
11on some categories of immigrants does not apply to the COFA
12migrants under the federal law.
-2-pf/rh