What This Bill Does
This law directs the federal government to create and maintain a public website with information about resources for people with disabilities and their families and caregivers. The website will include details about medical assistance programs, how to contact state offices, and information about long-term services and supports available to eligible individuals.
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Who It Affects
People with disabilities, families of people with disabilities, caregivers of people with disabilities, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and state Medicaid offices.
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Key Provisions
- The Secretary of Health and Human Services must establish a publicly available website within 3 years from when the law takes effect that provides information about resources and support for people with disabilities and their caregivers and families (Sec. 2(a))
- The website must include information about who qualifies for Medicaid medical assistance based on disability status and which states offer different eligibility options (Sec. 2(a)(1) and (2))
- The website must provide each state's specific eligibility requirements and contact information, including phone numbers and links, for state Medicaid offices (Sec. 2(a)(3) and (4))
- The Secretary must identify and share promotional activities to increase awareness of the website's resources among people with disabilities and their families and caregivers (Sec. 2(b))
- The Secretary may use thinkdifferently.net as a model when creating the website (Sec. 2(c))
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What Changes
A new federal website will be created to help people with disabilities and their families find information about available medical assistance programs and support services. This website did not previously exist.
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Important Definitions
None defined in the bill text.
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Effective Date
The Secretary must establish the website no later than 3 years after the date the bill becomes law (January 4, 2025), meaning the deadline is January 4, 2028.
138 STAT. 2817
PUBLIC LAW 118–225—JAN. 4, 2025
Public Law 118–225
118th Congress
An Act
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a website
to promote awareness of available resources for individuals with disabilities,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Think Differently Database
Act’’.
SEC. 2. PROMOTING AWARENESS OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall estab-
lish and update periodically a publicly available website to provide
information with respect to resources and information for people
with a disability and the caregivers and families of such people.
Such website shall include—
(1) information on eligibility to receive medical assistance
under a State plan under the Medicaid program under title
XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) (or
a waiver of such plan) based on a disability, including general
information about eligibility under subclauses (XIII), (XV),
(XVI), and (XIX) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii));
(2) which States offer eligibility under subclauses (XIII),
(XV), (XVI), and (XIX) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii));
(3) each State’s specific eligibility requirements, if
applicable, under subclauses (XIII), (XV), (XVI), and (XIX) of
section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii));
(4) information about how to contact each State’s Medicaid
office for information about Medicaid, including links and phone
numbers for State contacts;
(5) general information on Medicaid-covered long-term serv-
ices and supports that may be available to individuals eligible
for medical assistance under a State plan under the Medicaid
program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1396 et seq.) (or a waiver of such plan); and
(6) where applicable, the average amount of time that
individuals newly enrolled in a State’s waiver program for
home and community-based services in the past 12 months
Deadline.
Update.
Public
information.
Think Differently
Database Act.
42 USC 1396
note.
Jan. 4, 2025
[H.R. 670]
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138 STAT. 2818
PUBLIC LAW 118–225—JAN. 4, 2025
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 670:
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 118–874 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):
Dec. 17, considered and passed House.
Dec. 20, considered and passed Senate.
Æ
were on the list of individuals waiting to enroll in such waiver
program, in such a manner and process as described in section
441.311(d)(1)(iii) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations.
(b) PROMOTION.—The Secretary shall, as applicable and appro-
priate, identify and disseminate promotional activities to improve,
among people with a disability and the caretakers and families
of such people, the awareness of the resources included in the
website established under subsection (a), such as through collabora-
tion with the Social Security Administration during its annual
updates to the Red Book.
(c) MODEL.—In establishing the website under this section,
the Secretary may use the website thinkdifferently.net as a model.
(d) NONAPPLICATION OF PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT.—Chapter
35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly referred to as the
‘‘Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995’’), shall not apply to the
implementation of this section.
Approved January 4, 2025.
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