Rep. Angie Craig

Maddy summaryThe Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026 mandates that Medicaid programs cover a range of dental and oral health services for adults starting in 2027, including dentures, implants, and treatments for pain and emergencies. To help states afford this expansion, the bill provides 100 percent federal funding for these specific services for a 12-quarter period beginning in 2027, while allowing states the option to add extra dental benefits if they choose. In addition to expanding coverage, the legislation requires the federal government to develop standardized quality measures to track adult oral health outcomes and report on disparities based on race, ethnicity, and other demographics. The bill also directs the creation of an outreach program to help eligible adults find care and establishes a timeline for a comprehensive report on access barriers and reimbursement issues.

Maddy summaryThe Lawful Hemp Protection Act establishes a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products to ensure safety, quality, and consumer protection. It defines specific hemp products, prohibits the sale of items containing artificially modified cannabinoids like HHC or THCP, and mandates strict labeling requirements including THC milligram counts and health warnings. The bill creates a new tax on these products, requires manufacturers and wholesalers to obtain federal permits, and enforces a three-tiered distribution system for hemp beverages to prevent market consolidation. Additionally, it allows Medicare Advantage plans to cover these products for chronically ill patients and directs funds toward impaired driving enforcement and consumer safety oversight.

Maddy summaryThe Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals in the criminal justice system by restricting financial incentives for states that use restraints on pregnant inmates. Under the bill, states receiving federal justice grants would face a 25 percent funding penalty if they fail to implement laws limiting the use of shackles on pregnant individuals, with those withheld funds redirected to compliant states. The legislation also directs the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice to create and fund programs in at least six federal facilities and across various state and local prisons that provide specialized prenatal care, mental health support, and reentry assistance. These programs are designed to address specific health disparities, particularly for racial and ethnic minority groups, by offering culturally competent care, nutrition counseling, and opportunities to maintain contact with newborn children. Additionally, the act requires an independent oversight organization to monitor program implementation and mandates a Government Accountability Office report to analyze maternal and infant health data within the correctional system.

Maddy summaryThe AADAPT Act reauthorizes and expands Project ECHO grants to improve Alzheimer’s and dementia care through technology-enabled training. It specifically funds grants for healthcare providers in rural, frontier, or medically underserved areas to enhance early diagnosis, quality care, and provider retention for dementia patients. The bill authorizes $1 million annually (2027-2032) for these dementia-focused training programs, requiring funds to supplement - not replace - existing resources. This directly supports primary care providers licensed to serve underserved communities, using collaborative online learning to address care gaps.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the INCLUDE Project at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance research on Down syndrome and related health conditions. It requires NIH to fund high-risk studies on trisomy 21, support inclusive clinical trials for people with Down syndrome across all ages, and investigate co-occurring conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and autoimmunity. The law mandates NIH coordination across its institutes, consultation with patient advocates, and biennial reports to Congress detailing funded research and its real-world applications. The project directly affects individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and medical researchers, aiming to improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life through targeted scientific efforts.

Maddy summaryHR 2004, titled "Tyler’s Law," requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study how often hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl during overdose cases (beyond standard drug tests), including associated costs, patient benefits/risks, and impacts on privacy and patient-physician relationships. The study must be completed within one year of the bill's enactment. Based on the study results, the Secretary must issue guidance within six months on whether emergency departments should routinely test for fentanyl, how to inform clinicians about test contents, and how such testing may affect future overdose risks and health outcomes. This bill directly affects hospital emergency departments and patients experiencing overdoses by shaping future testing protocols.

Maddy summaryHR 1266, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, adds xylazine - a veterinary sedative increasingly found in illicit drug mixtures - to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, regulating its use and trafficking. It directly affects veterinarians, animal owners, and manufacturers by allowing xylazine to be legally dispensed for animal use under specific veterinary prescriptions, while prohibiting non-veterinary human use. The bill includes transition periods (60 days for practitioners, 1 year for labeling) to ease compliance for manufacturers and practitioners, and requires the DEA and FDA to expedite necessary applications. It also mandates two congressional reports on xylazine's illicit use and trafficking patterns, and directs the Sentencing Commission to review penalties for offenses involving xylazine.

Maddy summaryThe Medicare-X Choice Act of 2026 creates a new public health plan called the Medicare Exchange health plan, which would be available to individuals and small groups starting in 2028. The bill establishes two dedicated funds to finance the plan's creation and technology updates, appropriating $1 billion each for fiscal year 2027. Under the plan, the government would set premiums to cover full costs, and reimbursement rates for doctors and hospitals would generally match current Medicare rates, with potential increases for rural areas. The legislation also requires health care providers who participate in traditional Medicare to also accept patients in this new plan, while prohibiting insurers from placing additional restrictions on enrollees. Additionally, the bill expands tax credits for people buying insurance, fixes the "family glitch" that currently limits subsidy eligibility for some workers, and authorizes the government to negotiate prices for prescription drugs.

Maddy summaryThe Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 requires nursing homes, long-term care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and intermediate care facilities to allow two chosen family members or friends to visit residents during times when regular visitation is suspended. These essential caregivers must agree to follow the facility's existing safety and infection control rules, which are no more restrictive than those applied to staff. While facilities can limit access for the first seven days of a suspension or deny entry if a caregiver shows symptoms of a serious infectious disease, they cannot block visits for end-of-life care. Additionally, the bill mandates that complaints about denied access to essential caregivers be investigated and resolved within three days.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.