To amend titles XI and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for American Samoa treatment under the Medicaid Program similar to that provided to States.

March 11, 2003

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

To amend titles XI and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for American Samoa treatment under the Medicaid Program similar to that provided to States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CHANGE IN MEDICAID PAYMENTS TO AMERICAN SAMOA.

(a) PAYMENT OF REGULAR MATCHING RATE- Section 1905(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(b)(2)) is amended by striking `the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa' and inserting `and the Northern Mariana Islands'.

(b) INCREASE IN PAYMENT CEILING- Section 1108 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) is amended--

(1) in subsection (f), by striking `subsection (g)' and inserting `subsections (g) and (h)'; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

`(h) MEDICAID PAYMENTS TO AMERICAN SAMOA- Notwithstanding subsections (f) and (g), the total amount certified by the Secretary under title XIX with respect to a fiscal year for payment to American Samoa shall not exceed--

`(1) for fiscal year 2004 $10,000,000; and

`(2) for each succeeding fiscal year the amount provided in this subsection for the preceding fiscal year increased by the percentage increase in the medical care component of the consumer price index for all urban consumers (as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) for the twelve-month period ending in March preceding the beginning of the fiscal year, rounded to the nearest $10,000.'.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall take effect as of October 1, 2003, and shall apply to fiscal years beginning on or after such date.

END