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Medicaid Equal Standards Act
Introduced Jun 18, 2026 · Last action Jun 18, 2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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Summary
The Medicaid Equal Standards Act aims to establish a resources test for eligibility under the Medicaid program for the expansion population, starting from 2029. This test will determine an individual's eligibility based on their resources, with a specified amount that may be adjusted annually. States will have flexibility to apply their own resources tests, but must meet certain requirements.
Full bill text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9345 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9345
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a resources
test for eligibility under the Medicaid program for the expansion
population.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 18, 2026
Mr. Cloud introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish a resources
test for eligibility under the Medicaid program for the expansion
population.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Medicaid Equal Standards Act''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHING A RESOURCES TEST FOR ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE
MEDICAID PROGRAM FOR THE EXPANSION POPULATION.
(a) In General.--Section 1902(e)(14) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396a(e)(14)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``A State'' and
inserting ``Subject to subparagraph (M), a State''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(M) Resources test for expansion individuals.--
``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of this title, a State shall
provide, as a condition of eligibility for
medical assistance for an applicable individual
(as defined in clause (v)), that such
individual satisfy a resources test established
by the State that meets the requirements of
clause (ii).
``(ii) Resources test requirements.--
``(I) In general.--For purposes of
clause (i), subject to subclause (III),
a resources test established by a State
meets the requirements of this clause
if--
``(aa) the test precludes
eligibility for medical
assistance for any applicable
individual whose resources (as
determined under section 1613
for purposes of the
supplemental security income
program) exceed the amount
specified in subclause (II)
(or, in the case such
individual is married, double
such amount); and
``(bb) the State provides
for application of such test at
such times as are specified in
clause (iii).
``(II) Amount specified.--
``(aa) In general.--For
purposes of subclause (I)(aa),
the amount specified in this
subclause is--
``(AA) for 2029,
$10,000;
``(BB) for each
subsequent year (other
than an applicable
year), the amount
specified in this
subclause for the
previous year; and
``(CC) for an
applicable year, the
amount specified in
this subclause for the
previous year,
increased by the
percentage change in
the Consumer Price
Index for All Urban
Consumers over the 4-
year period ending on
September 30 of such
previous year.
``(bb) Applicable year
defined.--For purposes of item
(aa), the term `applicable
year' means 2033 and every
fourth year thereafter.
``(III) State flexibility.--A State
may elect, in a form and manner
specified by the Secretary--
``(aa) to apply, in lieu of
the dollar amount described in
subclause (I)(aa) applicable to
an applicable individual for a
year, such lower amount
specified by the State; or
``(bb) to take into account
resources specified by the
State that would otherwise be
excluded under section 1613 in
determining the resources of an
individual.
``(IV) Process to exercise state
flexibility.--A State's election under
subclause (III) may not be denied by
the Secretary and shall take effect at
such time and for such period of time
as the State specifies in such
election.
``(iii) Application of test.--A State shall
provide that a resources test described in
clause (i) is applied--
``(I) in the case of an applicable
individual who has filed an application
for medical assistance under a State
plan (or a waiver of such plan) under
this title, at the time of the initial
determination of such individual's
eligibility; and
``(II) in the case of an applicable
individual enrolled and receiving
medical assistance under a State plan
(or under a waiver of such plan) under
this title, at the time of each
redetermination of eligibility for such
individual.
``(iv) Treatment with respect to certain
fmap increases.--A State shall not be treated
as not providing medical assistance to all
individuals described in section
1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII), or as not expending
amounts for all such individuals under the
State plan (or waiver of such plan), solely
because such an individual is determined
ineligible for medical assistance under the
State plan (or waiver) on the basis of a
failure to satisfy a resources test described
in clause (i).
``(v) Applicable individual defined.--
``(I) In general.--For purposes of
this subparagraph, subject to subclause
(II), the term `applicable individual'
has the meaning given such term in
subsection (xx)(9)(A) and does not
include any specified excluded
individual.
``(II) State option to expand
definition of applicable individual.--A
State may, for purposes of this
subparagraph, elect to include as
applicable individuals any category of
specified excluded individuals, or all
such specified excluded individuals, as
determined appropriate by the State.
``(III) Specified excluded
individual defined.--For purposes of
this clause, the term `specified
excluded individual' has the meaning
given such term in subsection
(xx)(9)(A)(ii).''.
(b) State Plan Requirement.--Section 1902(a) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (89), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (90), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (90) the following new
paragraph:
``(91) provide that the State meets the requirement described in
subsection (e)(14)(M).''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply beginning January 1, 2029.
<all>Official legislative text sourced from the public record (cached on CivicsHQ).
Official source
View the original bill, actions, and full legislative record on Congress.gov.
Status
In Committee
- 1Introduced
- 2Committee
- 3Floor
- 4Passed
- 5Signed
Timeline reflects current normalized status only. Full action history is not yet stored in the API.
Topics
HealthcareTax & Budget
Sponsors
- Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]RHouseTX
Cosponsors
No cosponsors on record.
Votes
Voting records are not yet available for this bill.