H.R.1403 - Leveraging Integrity and Verification of Eligibility for Beneficiaries Act; LIVE Beneficiaries Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.1403, also known as the LIVE Beneficiaries Act, aims to amend Title XIX of the Social Security Act, mandating states to verify the eligibility of individuals enrolled for medical assistance quarterly. This verification process primarily involves cross-referencing enrollee data with the Death Master File to identify deceased individuals who may still be receiving benefits.
The bill requires states to disenroll deceased individuals and discontinue payments made on their behalf, while also providing a mechanism for reinstating coverage in cases of misidentification.
The Act seeks to enhance the integrity of the Medicaid program by reducing improper payments and ensuring that benefits are directed to eligible recipients.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill will be to reduce fraudulent or erroneous Medicaid payments made to deceased individuals. States will be required to implement quarterly screenings using the Death Master File.
This will likely lead to cost savings for the Medicaid program and potentially free up resources for other healthcare initiatives. It may also cause temporary disruptions for individuals who are incorrectly identified as deceased.
Potential Benefits
- Reduction in fraudulent Medicaid payments, leading to potential cost savings for taxpayers.
- Improved integrity and efficiency of the Medicaid program.
- Reinstatement process ensures individuals wrongly disenrolled are quickly re-enrolled.
- Frees up resources for other healthcare initiatives by reducing improper payments.
- Encourages states to use other electronic data sources for timely identification of deceased beneficiaries.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for errors in the Death Master File leading to wrongful disenrollment of eligible individuals.
- Administrative burden on states to implement and maintain the quarterly verification process.
- Possible delays in reinstating coverage for individuals who are incorrectly identified as deceased.
- Could disproportionately affect vulnerable populations if errors are not addressed promptly.
- Increased scrutiny and potential privacy concerns related to data matching.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). Congress has the power to collect taxes and provide for the general welfare of the United States. By reducing fraudulent payments, the bill aims to ensure that Medicaid funds are used more efficiently and effectively.
There are no apparent infringements on individual liberties or rights as the bill includes provisions for reinstating coverage in case of errors. The bill does not appear to violate any specific constitutional provision.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).