Rep. Josh Harder

Maddy summaryHR 3396, the Fire Department Repayment Act of 2023, requires the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, Homeland Security, and Defense to establish standard procedures for federal fire suppression cost share agreements within one year. It mandates reviewing existing agreements to align them with local cooperative fire protection agreements and conducting second-level reviews after wildfires, involving state and local fire organizations. The bill directly affects fire departments and agencies participating in these cost-sharing arrangements under the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act. Key changes include standardized procedures for agreement management and post-wildfire reviews to ensure cost-sharing compliance.

Maddy summaryThe Save Our Sequoias Act establishes a coordinated approach to protect giant sequoia groves in California from wildfires, insects, and drought. It creates a Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition including federal agencies, state governments, and the Tule River Indian Tribe to assess grove health, develop protection projects, and recommend forest management activities. The bill streamlines implementation of certain projects through categorical exclusion from environmental reviews, authorizes $10-40 million annually for conservation efforts, and establishes a fund for philanthropic support of sequoia protection.

Maddy summaryThe CAT Act of 2024 requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide Medicare providers with detailed notice before suspending payments due to fraud allegations. It mandates that CMS explain the specific fraud allegations, their basis (like hotline tips or audit findings), and provide regular updates during investigations, with suspensions limited to 180 days unless justified. Providers must receive a clear timeline for resolution and an opportunity to challenge allegations, with CMS required to resume payments and compensate for delays if transparency rules aren't followed. The bill also creates a new appeals process for providers and requires annual reports to Congress on suspension statistics. This directly affects Medicare providers who face payment suspensions, ensuring greater fairness for those acting in good faith.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires canned agricultural products imported to the U.S. to display their country of origin on the front label or stamped/embossed on the top of the can. It applies specifically to agricultural products defined under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The labeling requirement would take effect 18 months after the bill is enacted. This directly affects importers of canned agricultural goods entering the U.S. market.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $10,000 annual tax credit for individuals who make non-directed living kidney donations (where donors don’t know the recipient’s identity) for five years (the donation year plus four subsequent years). It directly affects living kidney donors who qualify under these specific conditions, covering costs related to the donation process. The credit applies to kidneys removed after December 31, 2024, and expires December 31, 2034. The bill does not alter organ transplant recipient eligibility or medical procedures, focusing solely on financial incentives for donors.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic prior authorization systems by 2027 and publish detailed data on their approval and denial rates for medical services by 2026. It directly affects Medicare Advantage plans (private insurers offering Medicare coverage) and their enrollees (seniors 65+), mandating transparency about prior authorization decisions, processing times, and appeal outcomes. Key provisions include requiring plans to report annual statistics on request approvals/denials, average processing times, and use of technology, with this data published publicly by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The bill also sets timelines for plan responses to prior authorization requests and mandates reports to Congress on implementation and impacts.

Maddy summaryThe SOAR Act of 2024 removes supplemental oxygen and related equipment, supplies, and services from Medicare's competitive bidding program, ensuring direct Medicare payment for these items starting in 2025. It establishes new payment rates for oxygen services, including specific rates for rural areas and liquid oxygen with annual inflation adjustments, and requires oxygen suppliers to provide specific services like initial evaluations, safety education, and 24-hour coverage. The bill also adds respiratory therapist services to Medicare coverage with a new payment add-on, requires electronic templates for documenting medical necessity for oxygen services, and establishes new beneficiary rights including the right to choose suppliers and receive timely equipment repairs. This legislation directly affects Medicare beneficiaries requiring oxygen therapy, oxygen suppliers, and respiratory therapists by changing how these services are paid for and delivered.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare to cover falls risk assessments and fall prevention services during annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams for seniors aged 65+ who have fallen in the previous year. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries with recent falls and healthcare providers delivering these services under Medicare. The key mechanism expands existing Medicare benefits to include these specific fall prevention services, effective January 1, 2025. Additionally, it mandates annual reports starting in 2026 tracking falls data for seniors over 65 who received fall-related treatment.

Maddy summaryThe REDUCE Act simplifies administrative requirements for physical and occupational therapists. It eliminates redundant paperwork by allowing therapists to submit a care plan to the ordering physician within 30 days after an initial evaluation, instead of requiring separate certifications. Physicians can then amend the care plan within 10 business days. This directly affects therapists, physicians, and Medicare patients receiving outpatient therapy services, reducing bureaucratic delays without requiring new physician orders. The bill aims to streamline care coordination under Medicare Part B.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds 1,000 new medical residency positions (500 in 2024 and 500 across 2025-2028) specifically for training in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, or pain medicine. It directly affects hospitals that have or will establish approved residency programs in these fields. Hospitals receiving these positions must use them for addiction-related training for five years, with unused positions redistributed if requirements aren't met. The goal is to expand the healthcare workforce addressing the substance use disorder crisis by increasing specialized training opportunities.