ACCESS Act

Key Points

• The bill would make assisted living services a mandatory Medicaid benefit for people who would otherwise need nursing home or hospital care. This gives seniors and people with disabilities a less institutional option for long-term care.
• To qualify, the per-person Medicaid cost of assisted living must not exceed what the government would have spent on hospital or nursing facility care. This ensures the new benefit saves money or at least breaks even compared to institutional care.
• The bill changes how Low-Income Housing Tax Credits are awarded, adding a new priority for housing projects that provide long-term services and supports for elderly people in community settings rather than institutions.
• Most changes would take effect on January 1, 2027. States that need to pass new legislation to comply can get extra time, up until the end of the next regular legislative session after the one-year mark.
• The bill was introduced by Sen. Marshall and referred to the Senate Finance Committee. It would amend both the Social Security Act (for Medicaid) and the Internal Revenue Code (for housing tax credits), tying healthcare and housing policy together.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.