Medicaid: Healthcare Continuity for Military Families
Also known as: Care for Military Kids Act
Legislative Progress
✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President
Key Points
This bill, introduced by Senators Blumenthal and Tillis, changes Medicaid rules so military families do not lose their place in line for special healthcare services when they move to a new state for service.
It specifically helps active-duty service members, those who retired in the last year, and their dependents who rely on 'home and community-based services,' which help people with disabilities or chronic conditions live at home.
Currently, when military families move, they often have to restart the long waiting process for Medicaid services in their new state; this bill would treat them as residents immediately so they can keep their spot on waiting lists.
The policy requires states to keep these families on their service lists until a full assessment is completed, ensuring that a move for work doesn't result in a sudden loss of medical support for a child.
If passed, states would be required to follow these new residency and waiting list rules starting January 1, 2028.
The bill provides $1 million per year from 2026 through 2030 to help the Department of Health and Human Services set up and manage these changes.
Milestones
2 milestones2 actions
May 22, 2025Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
May 22, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Care for Military Kids Act
Bill NumberS 1855
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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