Quality of services

(a) In general (1) Development of metrics (A) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with State Medicaid Directors, shall develop standardized, State-level metrics regarding access to, and satisfaction with, providers, including primary care and specialist providers, with respect to individuals who are enrolled in a State Medicaid plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (or under a waiver of such plan), broken down by demographics (as defined in section 2) and any other category determined appropriate by the Secretary. (B) Inclusions The metrics developed under subparagraph (A) shall include metrics on the total number of individuals enrolled in the State plan or under a waiver of such plan during a fiscal year that required the level of care provided in a nursing facility, intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities, institution for mental disease, or other similarly restrictive or institutional setting. (2) Process The Secretary shall develop the metrics described in paragraph (1) through a public process, which shall provide opportunities for stakeholders to participate. (b) Updating metrics The Secretary, in consultation with the Deputy Administrator and Director for the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services and State Medicaid Directors, shall update the metrics developed under subsection (a) not less than once every 3 years. (c) State implementation funding The Secretary may award funds, from the amount appropriated under subsection (d), to States for the purpose of implementing the metrics developed under this section. (d) Appropriation There is appropriated to the Secretary, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, to remain available until expended, for the purpose of carrying out this section.