The bill, General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5370, is an act concerning medical assistance for room and board costs for substance abuse treatment in a residential setting. The bill proposes that the Commissioner of Social Services, within the constraints of available appropriations, shall provide state-funded medical assistance coverage specifically for room and board expenses for Medicaid enrollees who are undergoing residential substance use disorder treatment.

The bill also outlines that this coverage should be consistent with federal law governing the Medicaid program. To achieve this, the Commissioner may either amend an existing Medicaid waiver approved under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act that pertains to substance use disorder treatment or amend the Medicaid state plan to include coverage for room and board costs associated with such treatment. The bill includes an insertion that indicates the act will take effect upon passage and will create a new section in the law.