HB2309, titled the Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act, would amend the Social Security Act’s Medicaid provider screening rules to require states to perform an additional check for deceased providers and suppliers. Beginning January 1, 2027, states would have to check the Death Master File when a provider or supplier enrolls or revalidates enrollment in Medicaid, and then repeat that check at least quarterly while the provider remains enrolled.
The bill is aimed at preventing fraud, waste, and improper payments by ensuring that deceased individuals are not kept on Medicaid provider rolls. It does not create a new benefit or eligibility category; instead, it adds an administrative verification requirement to state Medicaid enrollment and revalidation processes. The measure would apply to state Medicaid agencies and to providers and suppliers participating in the program.
Impact
The bill would amend section 1902(kk)(1) of the Social Security Act, adding a new federal requirement for state Medicaid programs to use the Death Master File as part of provider screening. States would need to build or adjust enrollment and revalidation systems to conduct the required checks at enrollment and at least quarterly thereafter, starting in 2027. The practical effect would be to tighten Medicaid program integrity controls and potentially reduce payments associated with deceased or improperly enrolled providers and suppliers.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable, bipartisan support for the bill’s anti-fraud purpose. The sponsors include members from both parties, and the bill’s title and structure frame it as a straightforward fraud-prevention measure rather than a controversial policy change. No committee transcript or vote record is available here, so there is no evidence of formal opposition in the provided materials.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided record. Potential areas of concern, if raised in future debate, could include the administrative burden on state Medicaid agencies, the cost of implementing quarterly Death Master File checks, and the accuracy or timeliness of death-record matching. However, the available materials do not show any member or stakeholder explicitly objecting to those issues.