May 4, 2026
Mr. Carter of Louisiana (for himself and Ms. McClellan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to increase payments to States with respect to outreach and enrollment under the Medicaid program.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Medicaid Outreach and Assistance for Communities Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Findings
The Congress finds that—
(1)
Research has shown that access to health insurance coverage reduces financial hardship, increases utilization of preventive and primary care services, improves management of chronic conditions, and is associated with better overall health outcomes.
(2)
Medicaid coverage in particular produces meaningful health and financial benefits, especially for vulnerable populations.
(3)
In 2025, Congress passed Public Law 119–21 that imposed many barriers to accessing Medicaid, including work reporting requirements and more frequent eligibility redeterminations in sections 71119 and 71107.
(4)
Evidence from jurisdictions that have adopted work requirements has shown that many individuals do not enroll or lose coverage at renewal, despite being eligible and compliant, because of administrative complexity and documentation burdens.
(5)
Effective outreach programs can help individuals navigate these new systems, increasing enrollment and retention among eligible individuals.
(6)
States have systems in place to help individuals navigate the Medicaid enrollment process but need additional support to handle these new requirements. Navigators extend the capacity of State government by helping to offset the additional administrative burden and need for assistance that State eligibility and call center workers will encounter when work requirements and semi-annual renewals are implemented.
(7)
Without additional navigation support, eligible individuals will go without insurance coverage, jeopardizing the health, well-being, and financial security of children, working families, and older adults.
Sec. 3. Increasing payments to States for Medicaid outreach and enrollment
(a) Increased payments for outreach and enrollment
Section 1903(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(a)) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
(2)
by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new paragraph:
(7)
an amount equal to 100 percent of the sums expended during such quarter which are attributable to the costs of outreach to and enrollment of individuals eligible for medical assistance under this title or for child health assistance under title XXI (including individuals described in section 1943(b)(1)(F)).
(b) Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to calendar quarters beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this section.