H.R.8540

H. R. 8540

April 28, 2026

Mrs. Dingell (for herself and Ms. Schakowsky) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage of, and expand access to, home and community-based services under the Medicaid program; to award grants for the creation, recruitment, training and education, retention, and advancement of the direct care workforce and to award grants to support family caregivers; and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents; 2. Definitions; TITLE I—REQUIRING AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO HCBS COVERAGE UNDER MEDICAID; 101. Purpose; 102. Requiring coverage of home and community-based services under the Medicaid program; 103. Medicaid eligibility modifications; 104. Home and community-based services implementation plan; 105. Quality of services; 106. Reports; technical assistance; other administrative requirements; 107. Quality measurement and improvement; 108. Making permanent the State option to extend protection under medicaid for recipients of home and community-based services against spousal impoverishment; 109. Permanent extension of money follows the person rebalancing demonstration; 110. Liens, adjustments, and recoveries for medical assistance; 111. HCBS provider tax; 112. Repealing the requirement that States establish a Medicaid estate recovery program and limit the circumstances in which a State may place a lien on a Medicaid beneficiary’s property; 113. Medicare amendment; TITLE II—RECOGNIZING THE ROLE OF DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS; 201. Findings; 202. Revision of standard occupational classification system; TITLE III—SUPPORT FOR THE DIRECT CARE WORKFORCE; 301. Definitions; 302. Authority to establish a technical assistance center for building the direct care workforce; 303. Authority to award grants; 304. Project plans; 305. Evaluations and reports; technical assistance; 306. Authorization of appropriations; TITLE IV—EVALUATION; 401. Evaluation of impact on access to HCBS