To amend titles XI and XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the cap on Medicaid payments for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa and to adjust the Medicaid statutory matching rate for those territories.

February 11, 2003

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN (for herself, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA, and Ms. BORDALLO) 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 remove the cap on Medicaid payments for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa and to adjust the Medicaid statutory matching rate for those territories.

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

SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF THE CAP ON MEDICAID PAYMENTS FOR PUERTO RICO, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, GUAM, THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, AND AMERICAN SAMOA AND ADJUSTMENT OF THE MEDICAID STATUTORY MATCHING RATE FOR THOSE TERRITORIES.

(a) REMOVAL OF CAP-

(1) IN GENERAL- Section 1108 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) is amended by striking subsections (f) and (g).

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- (A) Section 1902(j) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(j)) is amended by striking `the limitation in section 1108(f),'.

(B) Section 1905(u) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(u)) is amended by striking paragraph (4).

(b) ADJUSTMENT OF FEDERAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PERCENTAGE (FMAP)- Section 1905(b)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(b)(2)) is amended by striking `50 per centum' and inserting `for purposes of this title only 77 percent'.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply to expenditures made on or after such date.

END