,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bicb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bf 7legislative day1 ,september #bb71 #bjbc,mr4 ,markey 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 and ,mr4 ,booker7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,finance ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to provide guidance to ,state ,medicaid agencies1 public housing agencies1 ,continuums of ,care1 and housing finance agencies on connecting ,medicaid beneficiaries with housing-related services and supports under ,medicaid and other housing resources1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,housing ,alignment and ,coordination of ,critical and ,effective ,supportive ,health ,services ,act or the ,housing ,,access ,act4 #b4 ,guidance to ,states on connecting ,medicaid beneficiaries with housing-related services and supports and other housing resources 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ab months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development and the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 shall issue guidance to ,state ,medicaid agencies1 public housing agencies1 ,continuums of ,care1 and housing finance agencies to connect individuals who are receiving medical assistance under a ,state ,medicaid program to ,medicaid housing-related services and supports and other housing resources in an integrated manner4 7b7 ,required information ,the guidance issued pursuant to subsection 7a7 shall include information on-- 7#a7 simplifying health care services for housing and homelessness service providers and simplifying housing support services for health care service providers to understand the respective sectors2 7#b7 developing a memorandum of understanding between ,state ,medicaid agencies1 public housing agencies1 ,continuums of ,care1 and housing finance agencies that-- 7,a7 coordinates housing-related services and supports provided under a ,state ,medicaid program with other housing resources by aligning-- 7i7 eligibility criteria2 7ii7 eligibility determination processes2 and 7iii7 outcome measures1 including housing stability and health outcomes disaggregated by race2 7,b7 encourages providers of housing-related services and supports to seek reimbursement for such services and supports through the ,state ,medicaid program1 including by-- 7i7 explaining how such providers may receive such reimbursement2 7ii7 helping such providers understand the eligibility determination process for housing-related services and supports offered under the ,state ,medicaid program2 and 7iii7 providing guidance with respect to tracking common outcome measures1 including housing stability and health outcomes disaggregated by race2 and 7#c7 existing authorities under which a ,state ,medicaid program may make ,federal funds available to providers of housing-related services and supports to build information technology and financial systems and establish adequate infrastructure and staffing levels to seek ,medicaid reimbursement4 7c7 ,reporting ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development and the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 shall submit a report to ,congress that includes-- 7#a7 information on the progress of ,state ,medicaid agencies1 public housing agencies1 ,continuums of ,care1 and housing finance agencies in aligning eligibility criteria1 eligibility determination processes1 and outcome tracking2 7#b7 information on the adoption by such agencies and ,continuums of ,care of recommendations made in the guidance issued pursuant to subsection 7a72 and 7#c7 feedback from ,states on such guidance and challenges faced by ,states in connecting individuals receiving medical assistance under a ,state ,medicaid program with housing-related services and supports and other housing resources4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,continuum of ,care ,the term ,continuum of ,care has the meaning given such term in section #egh4c of title #bd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations4 7#b7 ,state ,medicaid program ,the term ,state ,medicaid program means a ,state plan for medical assistance under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq471 and includes any waiver of such a plan4 #c4 ,national rate study on the cost of housing-related services and supports 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary7 shall conduct a national rate study on the cost of housing-related services and supports to determine appropriate rates for such services and supports that will allow providers of such services and supports to pay living wages1 reduce staff turnover1 and ensure a maximum case manager-to-client ratio of #a3ae in alignment with the evidence-base for strong supportive housing outcomes4 ,such study shall include an analysis of reimbursement rates for services provided by certified community behavioral health clinics 7as such term is used in section #bbc of the ,protecting ,access to ,medicare ,act of #bjad 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif;a note77 and ,federally-qualified health centers 7as defined in section #aije7l77#b77;,b7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif;d7l77#b77;,b777 that promote integrated care1 which may include1 but is not limited to1 housing-related supports and services1 and serve people with complex conditions4 7b7 ,publication ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall publish the results of the study conducted under this section as guidance to ,state ,medicaid agencies4