Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable Americans Act

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 13, 2017

Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable Medicaid Patients

This bill amend title XI (General Provisions) of the Social Security Act to require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in approving Medicaid demonstration projects, to:

prioritize projects that have been proven effective in improving care and outcomes with respect to uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, or low-income individuals;

require participating states to make publicly available data regarding the health outcomes for individuals to be served;

ensure that projects are not duplicative of any federal program or funding opportunity; and

require participating states to make publicly available an analysis of the degree to which such projects preclude private and charitable sector efforts to improve care and outcomes with respect to uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, or low-income individuals.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Collins, Chris [R-NY-27] · R–NY

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee

5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jan 13, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 13, 2017
Introduced in House
Jan 13, 2017
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 13, 2017 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.543 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.543, 115th Congress: Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable Americans Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/543

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-01-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr543/BILLS-115hr543ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:31:33Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.543 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.543 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.543, 115th Congress: Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable Americans Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/543

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-01-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr543/BILLS-115hr543ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:31:33Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.543 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.543 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss H.R.543, 115th Congress: Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable Americans Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/543

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-01-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr543/BILLS-115hr543ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:31:33Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.543 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.543, 115th Congress: Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable Americans Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/543

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-01-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr543/BILLS-115hr543ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:31:33Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.543 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.