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H.R. 3253: Sustaining Excellence in Medicaid Act of 2019

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H.R. 3253: Sustaining Excellence in Medicaid Act of 2019

116th Congress · introduced 2019-06-13 · Health · Latest: Became Public Law No: 116-39.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-06-13 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-12] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 333 (2019): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR3253 (2019-06-18), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 116-39. (final step reached)
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Sustaining Excellence in Medicaid Act of 2019

Plain summary

Sustaining Excellence in Medicaid Act of 2019 This bill extends several health care programs and requirements and revises certain Medicare drug payment methodologies. (Sec. 2) The bill temporarily extends the Medicaid demonstration program for certified community behavioral health clinics. (Sec. 3) The bill also temporarily extends the applicability of Medicaid eligibility criteria that protect against spousal impoverishment for recipients of home- and community-based services. (Sec. 4) The bill increases appropriations for FY2019 for the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program. (Under this program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may award grants to state Medicaid programs to assist states in increasing the use of home and community care for long-term care and decreasing the use of institutional care.) (Sec. 5) Additionally, the bill extends the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers Program, which is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The program awards grants to family-run organizations to support the provision of information and peer support to families of children with special health care needs. (Sec. 6) Finally, the bill provides statutory authority for a Medicare payment methodology that applies an add-on payment of up to 3% for new drugs or biologics (furnished on or after January 1, 2019) when the average sales price is unavailable and payment is instead based on the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC). (Effective January 1, 2019, the CMS reduced the WAC add-on payment in such situations from 6% to 3%.)

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Sustaining Excellence in Medicaid Act of 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-12] · 9 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 3253, Empowering Beneficiaries, Ensuring Access, and Strengthening Accountability Act of 2019 (2019-06-17)

Cosponsors on this site

Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tim Walberg (R-MI)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-12] reported raising $1.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (3)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Statute
A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr3253 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116