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Improving the Treatment of the U.S. Territories Under Federal Health Programs Act of 2015

Introduced: August 5, 2015 Introduced by: Schumer, Charles E. Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 5, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Aug 5, 2015
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Improving the Treatment of the U.S. Territories Under Federal Health Programs Act of 2015

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to: (1) terminate limitations on general Medicaid funding, as well as the specific federal medical assistance percentage, for U.S. territories; (2) extend to additional U.S. territories the authority to waive or modify certain Medicaid requirements; and (3) establish a formula for Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments to the territories.

Federal financial participation shall generally not be available to a territory for medical assistance for an individual whose family income exceeds 100% percent of the official poverty line for a family of that size.

The bill also amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the SSAct to: (1) revise the formula for the Medicare inpatient hospital services payment rate for hospitals in Puerto Rico to increase the applicable federal percentage from 75% to 100%, (2) apply Medicare HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act) payments to certain hospitals in Puerto Rico, (3) establish a formula element for calculating Medicare DSH payments under the inpatient prospective payment system for certain hospitals in Puerto Rico, (4) allow residents of Puerto Rico to enroll under Medicare hospital services, (5) increase the geographic adjustment practice expense index for Puerto Rico, and (6) alter how U.S territories are treated under Medicare Advantage and the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

What's happening now August 5, 2015

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Related & companion bills 6
  • HR 1225 Related bill Puerto Rico Hospital HITECH Amendments Act of 2015
  • HR 1418 Related bill Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act of 2015
  • HR 2635 Related bill Improving the Treatment of the U.S. Territories Under Federal Health Programs Act of 2015
  • S 1453 Related bill Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity Act of 2015
  • S 1602 Related bill Puerto Rico Hospital HITECH Amendments Act of 2015
  • S 2675 Related bill Puerto Rico Recovery Act of 2016
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3
D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Oct 22, 2015
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Aug 5, 2015
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Aug 5, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1961: Improving the Treatment of the U.S. Territories Under Federal Health Programs Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-1961/
MLA
"S. 1961: Improving the Treatment of the U.S. Territories Under Federal Health Programs Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-1961/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1961, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-1961/.
Markdown link
[S. 1961: Improving the Treatment of the U.S. Territories Under Federal Health Programs Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-1961/)
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