Study

(a) In general Not later than the date that is one year and one month after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study— (1) comparing the number of children enrolled in a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (or a waiver of such plan) during the 12-month period preceding the first day of the period described in subparagraph (C)(ii) of section 1902(a)(13) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(13)), as amended by section 2, to the number of children so enrolled during the 12-month period beginning on such first day; (2) comparing the number of health care providers receiving payments for primary care services under the Medicaid program under such title during the 12-month period preceding the first day of the period described in subparagraph (C)(ii) of section 1902(a)(13) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(13)), as amended by section 2, to the number of health care providers receiving such payments during the 12-month period beginning on such first day; and (3) comparing health care provider payment rates for primary care services under the Medicaid program under such title during the 12-month period beginning on the first day of the period described in subparagraph (C)(ii) of section 1902(a)(13) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(13)), as amended by section 2, across States, using the indexes described in subsection (b). (b) Indexes described The indexes described in this subsection are each of the following: (1) A Medicaid fee index, comparing each State’s average fee for primary care services under the Medicaid program under such title to the national average for such services. (2) A Medicaid-to-Medicare fee index, comparing each State’s average fee for primary care services under the Medicaid program under such title to the fee for such services under the Medicare program under title XVIII of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.). (3) A Medicaid fee change index, comparing fees for primary care services under the Medicaid program under such title during the 12-month period preceding the first day of the period described in subparagraph (C)(ii) of section 1902(a)(13) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(13)), as amended by section 2, to the fees for such services during the 12-month period beginning on such first day. (c) Authorization of appropriations For purposes of this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $200,000 for fiscal year 2026, to be available until expended.