Maddy summaryHR 5713, the Homeland Security Fentanyl Enforcement Act, authorizes Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents and designated state/local officers to enforce drug laws related to fentanyl trafficking under the Controlled Substances Act for five years. It requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review and report on coordination between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and HSI in drug investigations within 18 months, including whether investigations followed established coordination policies. The bill mandates the Homeland Security Secretary and Attorney General to address any coordination failures found in the GAO report, prioritizing existing interagency task forces. This bill focuses on improving interagency coordination to combat fentanyl smuggling by transnational criminal organizations, without altering DEA's core authorities or creating new drug penalties.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHR 5376, the Share the Savings with Seniors Act, changes Medicare Part D drug cost-sharing rules for specific chronic medications starting in 2025. It limits what seniors pay for certain chronic care drugs (like anticoagulants, blood glucose regulators, and respiratory medications) by capping pre-deductible costs at the drug's net price and requiring coinsurance after the deductible to be based on that net price. This directly affects Medicare Part D beneficiaries taking these defined chronic medications. The bill aims to reduce out-of-pocket costs by tying payment limits to the negotiated drug price rather than list price or other benchmarks.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes Medicare payment rules for anesthesiologist services in specific rural hospitals. It requires Medicare to pay for anesthesiologist services in qualifying rural hospitals using the same "reasonable cost, pass-through" reimbursement method currently used for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), rather than the standard physician payment rate. The bill directly affects rural hospitals and anesthesiologists working in those facilities, ensuring they receive comparable reimbursement to CRNAs under existing rules. The change applies to services provided during cost reporting periods starting after the bill's enactment date. This is a technical adjustment to payment methodology, not a new coverage benefit.
Maddy summaryHR 3748, the SAFE Act of 2023, requires U.S. agricultural agencies to proactively negotiate trade agreements with foreign governments to minimize export disruptions caused by animal disease outbreaks. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the U.S. Trade Representative, to establish regionalization, zoning, or compartmentalization agreements with key export markets for U.S. livestock and animal products. The bill also mandates that the Food Safety and Inspection Service notify state agricultural departments and producer groups within three days if export-related information is removed from official libraries. This directly affects livestock producers and exporters by aiming to stabilize access to international markets during disease events. The law amends the Animal Health Protection Act to formalize these negotiation and notification requirements.
Maddy summaryHR 3561, the PATIENT Act of 2023, requires hospitals, health insurance plans, and pharmacy benefit managers to publicly disclose detailed pricing information for healthcare services and drugs. Hospitals must publish standard charges for 300+ shoppable services, including gross charges, payer-specific negotiated rates, and discounted cash prices, with updates required annually. Health plans must provide real-time information on in-network rates, cost sharing, deductibles, and prior authorization requirements for covered services. The bill establishes enforcement mechanisms, including civil monetary penalties for non-compliance, with fines ranging from $300 per day for small hospitals to $5 million for large hospitals that fail to comply with the transparency requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare Part B coverage to include specific pharmacist services, directly affecting Medicare beneficiaries and pharmacists who provide these services. It adds new coverage for pharmacist evaluations and treatments related to certain illnesses (like COVID-19, flu, or strep throat) and public health emergencies, requiring payment at 80% of the lesser of actual charge or 85% of physician payment rates (100% during emergencies). The bill also prohibits balance billing for these services, ensuring beneficiaries pay only the standard Medicare copayment. These changes aim to improve access to pharmacist care during health crises while aligning payment with existing physician service frameworks.
Maddy summaryHR 1399, the "Protect Children's Innocence Act," prohibits medical gender-affirming care for minors under 18 by making it a class C felony for providers to perform such care. The bill defines gender-affirming care broadly to include surgical procedures, hormone treatments, and certain cosmetic procedures, with exceptions for medical conditions like reproductive cancers or intersex conditions. It prohibits federal funding for gender-affirming care through programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act, and bans such care in federal health facilities. The bill also prevents institutions of higher education from teaching gender-affirming care and adds immigration consequences for individuals who provide such care to minors.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Social Security Act to exclude wages earned and self-employment income derived from unauthorized employment in the United States from being counted toward Social Security credits. It directly affects undocumented immigrants who work without authorization, preventing those earnings from contributing to their future Social Security benefits. The law changes existing Social Security rules by adding specific exclusions for "service performed by an alien while employed... not authorized to be so employed" and similar self-employment activities. These changes apply to all wages and income earned before, during, or after the bill's enactment, with Social Security recompiling existing benefit calculations to reflect the new rules.
Maddy summaryHR 497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, eliminates a federal requirement for healthcare workers in Medicare and Medicaid programs to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The bill directly affects healthcare providers who treat patients under these federally funded programs by preventing the enforcement of the November 2021 HHS rule mandating staff vaccinations. Its key provision prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from implementing, enforcing, or creating a similar rule regarding vaccination for these workers. This bill changes the policy by removing a specific vaccine mandate for providers in Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Maddy summaryHR 407, the "Protect the UNBORN Act," prohibits federal agencies from implementing or enforcing two specific executive orders issued by President Biden in 2022 (Executive Orders 14076 and 14079), which aimed to protect access to reproductive healthcare services. The bill bans the use of federal funds, including those from the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, to carry out, administer, or enforce these executive orders. It directly affects federal agencies and programs that would otherwise comply with the Biden administration's policies on reproductive healthcare access. The bill does not create new healthcare rules but blocks the implementation of existing executive actions.