US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 1396r–1a

Presumptive eligibility for children

(a)

In general

section 1396a of this titleA State plan approved under may provide for making medical assistance with respect to health care items and services covered under the State plan available to a child during a presumptive eligibility period.

(b)

Definitions; regulations

For purposes of this section:
(1)
The term “child” means an individual under 19 years of age.
(2)
The term “presumptive eligibility period” means, with respect to a child, the period that—
(A)
begins with the date on which a qualified entity determines, on the basis of preliminary information, that the family income of the child does not exceed the applicable income level of eligibility under the State plan, and
(B)
ends with (and includes) the earlier of—
(i)
the day on which a determination is made with respect to the eligibility of the child for medical assistance under the State plan, or
(ii)
in the case of a child on whose behalf an application is not filed by the last day of the month following the month during which the entity makes the determination referred to in subparagraph (A), such last day.
(3)
(A)
Subject to subparagraph (B), the term “qualified entity” means any entity that—
(i)
(I)
42 U.S.C. 983142 U.S.C. 9857section 1786 of this title1
1 So in original. A comma probably should appear after “title”.
section 8801 of title 202
2 See References in Text note below.
242 U.S.C. 1130142 U.S.C. 1437f42 U.S.C. 143725 U.S.C. 4101 is eligible for payments under a State plan approved under this subchapter and provides items and services described in subsection (a), (II) is authorized to determine eligibility of a child to participate in a Head Start program under the Head Start Act ( et seq.), eligibility of a child to receive child care services for which financial assistance is provided under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 [ et seq.], eligibility of an infant or child to receive assistance under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC) under   eligibility of a child for medical assistance under the State plan under this subchapter, or eligibility of a child for child health assistance under the program funded under subchapter XXI, (III) is an elementary school or secondary school, as such terms are defined in , an elementary or secondary school operated or supported by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a State or tribal child support enforcement agency, an organization that is providing emergency food and shelter under a grant under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act  [ et seq.], or a State or tribal office or entity involved in enrollment in the program under this subchapter, under part A of subchapter IV, under subchapter XXI, or that determines eligibility for any assistance or benefits provided under any program of public or assisted housing that receives Federal funds, including the program under section 8 [] or any other section of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( et seq.) or under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 ( et seq.), or (IV) any other entity the State so deems, as approved by the Secretary; and
(ii)
is determined by the State agency to be capable of making determinations of the type described in paragraph (2).
(B)
The Secretary may issue regulations further limiting those entities that may become qualified entities in order to prevent fraud and abuse and for other reasons.
(C)
Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a State from limiting the classes of entities that may become qualified entities, consistent with any limitations imposed under subparagraph (B).
(c)

Application for medical assistance; procedure upon determination of presumptive eligibility

(1)
The State agency shall provide qualified entities with—
(A)
such forms as are necessary for an application to be made on behalf of a child for medical assistance under the State plan, and
(B)
information on how to assist parents, guardians, and other persons in completing and filing such forms.
(2)
A qualified entity that determines under subsection (b)(2) that a child is presumptively eligible for medical assistance under a State plan shall—
(A)
notify the State agency of the determination within 5 working days after the date on which determination is made, and
(B)
inform the parent or custodian of the child at the time the determination is made that an application for medical assistance under the State plan is required to be made by not later than the last day of the month following the month during which the determination is made.
(3)
l In the case of a child who is determined by a qualified entity to be presumptively eligible for medical assistance under a State plan, the parent, guardian, or other person shall make application on behalf of the child for medical assistance under such plan by not later than the last day of the month following the month during which the determination is made, which application may be the application used for the receipt of medical assistance by individuals described in section 1396a()(1) of this title.
(d)

Treatment of medical assistance

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, medical assistance for items and services described in subsection (a) that—
(1)
are furnished to a child—
(A)
during a presumptive eligibility period,
(B)
by an entity that is eligible for payments under the State plan; and
(2)
are included in the care and services covered by a State plan;
section 1396b of this titleshall be treated as medical assistance provided by such plan for purposes of .

Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531Pub. L. 105–33, title IV, § 4912(a)111 Stat. 571Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(6) [title VI, § 608(r)]113 Stat. 1536Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(6) [title VII, § 708]114 Stat. 2763(, title XIX, § 1920A, as added , , ; amended , , , 1501A–397; , , , 2763A–577.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 97–3595 Stat. 499section 9801 of this titleThe Head Start Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A)(i)(II), is subchapter B (§§ 635–657) of chapter 8 of subtitle A of title VI of , , , which is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 9831 et seq.) of chapter 105 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 97–35Pub. L. 101–508, title V, § 5082(2)104 Stat. 1388–236section 9857(a) of this titleThe Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A)(i)(II), is subchapter C (§ 658A et seq.) of chapter 8 of subtitle A of title VI of , as added by , , , which is classified generally to subchapter II–B (§ 9857 et seq.) of chapter 105 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.

Section 8801 of title 20Pub. L. 107–110, title X, § 1011(5)(C)115 Stat. 1986section 7801 of Title 20, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A)(i)(III), was repealed by , , . See , Education.

Pub. L. 100–77101 Stat. 482Pub. L. 100–77Pub. L. 106–400, § 1114 Stat. 1675section 11301 of this titleThe Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A)(i)(III), was , , . was renamed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act by , , , and is classified principally to chapter 119 (§ 11301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

act Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896Pub. L. 93–383, title II, § 201(a)88 Stat. 653section 1437 of this titleThe United States Housing Act of 1937, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A)(i)(III), is , as revised generally by , , , which is classified generally to chapter 8 (§ 1437 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 104–330110 Stat. 4016section 4101 of Title 25The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A)(i)(III), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 43 (§ 4101 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(6) [title VII, § 708(b)(1)]42 U.S.C. 983142 U.S.C. 98212000—Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(i). , substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(6) [title VII, § 708(a)(2)]section 8801 of title 2042 U.S.C. 143725 U.S.C. 4101, inserted before semicolon “eligibility of a child for medical assistance under the State plan under this subchapter, or eligibility of a child for child health assistance under the program funded under subchapter XXI, (III) is an elementary school or secondary school, as such terms are defined in , an elementary or secondary school operated or supported by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a State or tribal child support enforcement agency, an organization that is providing emergency food and shelter under a grant under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, or a State or tribal office or entity involved in enrollment in the program under this subchapter, under part A of subchapter IV, under subchapter XXI, or that determines eligibility for any assistance or benefits provided under any program of public or assisted housing that receives Federal funds, including the program under section 8 or any other section of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( et seq.) or under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 ( et seq.), or (IV) any other entity the State so deems, as approved by the Secretary”.

Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(6) [title VII, § 708(a)(1)], substituted “, (II)” for “or (II)”.

Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(6) [title VII, § 708(b)(2)]Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(ii). , substituted “paragraph (2)” for “paragraph (1)(A)”.

Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(6) [title VII, § 708(b)(3)]Subsec. (c)(2). , substituted “subsection (b)(2)” for “subsection (b)(1)(A)” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 106–1131999—Subsec. (d)(1)(B). substituted “an entity” for “a entity”.