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House backs three‑year Medicaid pilot for remote monitoring of chronic conditions
Summary
The House passed Senate Bill 269, which creates a three‑year pilot under a federal 1115 waiver to test remote monitoring for Medicaid fee‑for‑service beneficiaries with chronic conditions (heart failure, hypertension, COPD, etc.); sponsors said the waiver must be budget neutral and the pilot aims to reduce hospital visits and lower costs. (Passed 70–1.)
Representative Steve Eliason told the chamber that chronic disease is a leading cause of death and disability and that Senate Bill 269 would launch a three‑year pilot program under a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 1115 waiver to test remote monitoring for Medicaid fee‑for‑service beneficiaries.
Eliason said the pilot would collect data to evaluate whether remote monitoring can reduce in‑person visits and hospitalizations for conditions such as congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic kidney disease. He emphasized that 1115 waivers must be budget‑neutral to the federal government and that applying for the waiver is a change in delivery approach rather than an expansion of Medicaid.
During Q&A a member asked about the fiscal note; Eliason explained that fiscal notes are not dynamic and that some savings (for example, fewer facility visits and facility fees) may not be captured. He said the program will require setup costs reflected in the fiscal note and that the department will report back to the interim Health and Human Services Committee to allow evaluation.
The House passed the bill; the transcript records 70 yes votes and 1 no vote. The bill will be returned to the Senate for further consideration.
