The LIVE Beneficiaries Act mandates states to use the Death Master File to remove deceased individuals from medical assistance programs, ensuring proper allocation of resources.
Gus Bilirakis
Representative
FL-12
The LIVE Beneficiaries Act aims to prevent improper payments in state medical assistance programs by requiring states to cross-reference their enrollee lists against the Social Security Death Master File quarterly, starting in 2027. States must disenroll deceased individuals and stop payments, but also reinstate coverage retroactively for anyone incorrectly disenrolled. States can use other data sources to identify deceased beneficiaries, but must still comply with the Death Master File requirements.
LIVE Beneficiaries Act: States to Check Death Records Quarterly, Starting 2027, to Stop Improper Medical Assistance Payments
The "Leveraging Integrity and Verification of Eligibility for Beneficiaries Act," or "LIVE Beneficiaries Act," is straightforward: it aims to stop medical assistance payments from going to deceased individuals. Starting January 1, 2027, states have to check their enrollee lists against the Social Security Administration's Death Master File (DMF) every three months. If a beneficiary is listed as deceased, the state must stop payments and disenroll them.
Keeping the Rolls Clean
The core of the LIVE Beneficiaries Act is about regularly updating state medical assistance rolls. By cross-referencing with the DMF, states can ensure that payments aren't being sent out for people who are no longer living. Think of it like a landlord regularly checking to make sure they're not sending bills to a former tenant who's moved out—except in this case, it's about taxpayer money and healthcare benefits.
Real-World Rollout
Imagine a small business owner who relies on accurate records to manage their inventory and payroll. This bill applies the same principle to state medical assistance programs. States are basically required to do regular "housekeeping" of their enrollee lists. This isn't just about saving money; it's about making sure the system is working correctly and benefits are going where they're supposed to. The bill even allows states to use other electronic data sources, as long as they still comply with the DMF checks (Section 2).
Fixing Mistakes
Now, what happens if there's a mix-up? Say someone is wrongly flagged as deceased—like a construction worker accidentally marked as "out of service." The bill requires states to immediately reinstate coverage, retroactive to the date of disenrollment (Section 2). This means there's a built-in safety net to catch errors and make sure people don't lose their benefits due to a clerical mistake.
The Bigger Picture
This act fits into a larger effort to keep government programs running efficiently. It's like updating the software on your computer—regular maintenance to prevent bigger problems down the line. While there's a potential for errors (like any system that relies on data), the bill includes safeguards to quickly correct those mistakes. Ultimately, the LIVE Beneficiaries Act is about making sure that medical assistance programs are both accurate and fair, ensuring benefits reach the people who actually need them.