FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rep. Green’s Bill Empowers Medicaid Patients and Provides States with More Flexibility
WASHINGTON—Today, Rep. Mark Green reintroduced the Medicaid Improvement and State Flexibility Act in the 119th Congress. The bill authorizes states to begin pilot programs that give Medicaid recipients a “swipe card” designed for primary care and medication purchases. Any unused funds are returned to the holder at the end of the year in the form of an Earned Income Tax Credit.
Rep. Green said, “I reintroduced the Medicaid Improvement and State Flexibility Act to give Medicaid recipients more control over their healthcare. Implementing a ‘swipe card’ system will expand patient options in their primary care decisions. This will empower patients to make fiscally responsible decisions about their own health care.”
Rep. Green continued, “Granting states greater flexibility for innovation within Medicaid aligns with common sense and effective governance. We know that one-size-fits-all solutions don’t work and that is especially true in medicine. This bill gives states the leeway they need to test pilot programs that will improve the healthcare experience for both doctors and Medicaid patients.”
“For patients living in rural areas, healthcare access is often a major hardship. Implementing a swipe card will make it far easier for doctors to process payments from Medicaid patients. Allowing Medicaid recipients to use this card is like allowing those insured by private companies to use their health savings accounts. It puts patients in control of their own health. This will increase competition in the healthcare market, which will increase quality and drive down costs,” Rep. Green concluded.
This bill was cosponsored by: Rep. Josh Brecheen
This bill was endorsed by: Americans for Prosperity
Read the bill text here.
Background: Rep. Green introduced a similar bill in the Tennessee state senate in 2016. This bill passed, but cannot be implemented without federal action. Read more about it here.
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This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://markgreen.house.gov/2025/2/rep-green-s-bill-empowers-medicaid-patients-and-provides-states-with-more-flexibility