S 3544 116th Congress Senate Social Welfare Aging Appropriations Cardiovascular and respiratory health Department of Agriculture Department of Health and Human Services Disability assistance Emergency medical services and trauma care Employee leave Executive agency funding and structure Family services Food assistance and relief Government information and archives Health care costs and insurance Health care coverage and access Health facilities and institutions Health personnel Health programs administration and funding Health technology, devices, supplies Home and outpatient care

Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act of 2020

Introduced: March 19, 2020 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Mar 19, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mar 19, 2020

Introduced in Senate

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act of 2020

This bill expands support programs for older adults and individuals with disabilities during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency.

Specifically, the bill provides supplemental appropriations for (1) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for quality improvement and laboratory certification activities; (2) the Administration on Community Living to expand nutrition and other programs for older adults; and (3) the Department of Agriculture to provide food packages to low-income, elderly individuals. The funds are designated as an emergency requirement and are therefore exempt from discretionary funding limits and other budget enforcement rules.

In addition, the bill (1) temporarily requires state Medicaid programs to provide Medicare cost-sharing assistance to certain individuals who qualify for, or are enrolled in, the low-income subsidy program under the Medicare prescription drug benefit; and (2) authorizes a grant program to support Medicaid home- and community-based services during the public health emergency.

The bill also allows states to transfer funds, in greater amounts and without prior approval, between congregate and home-delivered nutrition programs,

The Department of Health and Human Services must prioritize home-delivered nutrition services for individuals who are unable to obtain nutrition as a result of the emergency, such as those under quarantine, just as it prioritizes delivery to individuals who are homebound by illness.

What's happening now March 19, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Committees of jurisdiction 1