Rep. Brittany Pettersen

Maddy summaryThis bill allows states to use fixed-fee primary care arrangements under Medicaid, where patients pay a set monthly fee for basic primary care services (like check-ups and preventive care) instead of traditional billing. It directly affects Medicaid programs, primary care providers (doctors and clinics), and enrollees receiving primary care. Key provisions remove barriers to states contracting directly with providers for this model and require the HHS Secretary to issue implementation guidance and submit a report on cost and quality outcomes within a year. The bill does not change Medicaid eligibility, cost-sharing rules, or limit services to only this payment model.

Maddy summaryThis bill reauthorizes the Preventing Maternal Deaths program through 2028, extending existing provisions under the Public Health Service Act. It requires maternal mortality review committees to include obstetricians and gynecologists and improves death certificate accuracy by directing coordination with death certifiers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must annually share evidence-based best practices for preventing maternal mortality with hospitals, state health groups, and perinatal quality collaboratives. The changes directly affect state maternal mortality review committees, healthcare providers, and hospitals receiving CDC guidance. The bill does not create new funding but extends the current program's authorization period from 2019-2023 to 2024-2028.

Maddy summaryHR 6203 extends funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) through fiscal year 2028, increasing annual commodity funding to $500 million per year for 2024-2028. It raises storage and distribution funding from $100 million to $200 million annually and creates new delivery options for geographically isolated states (Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam), including allowing them to order through the Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The bill also permits these states to use up to 20% of allocated funds to directly purchase locally grown food. Finally, it allows the Secretary to consider factors like product variety and transportation distance when awarding contracts for fresh produce packages, while maintaining nutritional goals.

Maddy summaryHR 7495 establishes clear definitions for competency-based education (CBE) in higher education, where students advance by demonstrating mastery of skills rather than by spending time in class. The bill requires the Department of Education to collect and publicly report on key outcomes for CBE programs, including median earnings, time to completion, and job placement rates for institutions with over 200 students in such programs. It creates demonstration projects allowing institutions to operate CBE programs with waivers from certain credit-hour requirements, while requiring them to track student outcomes and demonstrate alignment with workforce needs. The law aims to make CBE more accessible and accountable by standardizing definitions and requiring transparent reporting on program effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Head Start Act to improve teacher qualifications in Early Head Start programs. It requires each Early Head Start center to have at least one teacher per classroom who holds or is working toward a child development associate credential, with mentorship support during that process. The law eliminates outdated deadlines and updates requirements so teachers providing direct services must be actively pursuing this credential and relevant training. These changes directly affect Early Head Start programs nationwide by setting new standards for staff qualifications and professional development.

Maddy summaryHR 533, the "Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act," establishes U.S. policy recognizing Tibetans' right to self-determination under international law and rejects China's historical claims about Tibet. It directs the State Department to counter Chinese disinformation about Tibet’s history and status, including claims that Tibet has been part of China "since ancient times," and amends the 2002 Tibetan Policy Act to require specific disinformation countermeasures. The bill defines "Tibet" to include the Tibet Autonomous Region and Tibetan areas in Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan provinces. These provisions aim to guide U.S. diplomatic efforts toward resolving the Tibet-China dispute through dialogue and factual representation.

Protecting Front Line Multimission Hospitals Act of 2024 This bill allows for increased payment adjustments under Medicaid for certain hospitals that provide multiple types of services for Medicaid-eligible or uninsured individuals (i.e., multimission hospitals). Specifically, the bill allows hospitals to receive higher disproportionate share hospital payments under Medicaid for costs associated with physician services, emergency medical services, or services provided at federally qualified health centers or other clinical outpatient settings, if such services are provided to maintain a certain level of care under Medicaid. The hospital's patient population must meet certain higher indexes with respect to the number of Medicaid-eligible and uninsured individuals served. Additionally, state Medicaid programs must ensure that relevant payment plans for these hospitals support the financial viability of the hospitals and their ability to provide the requisite level of care under Medicaid.

Maddy summaryHR 7248, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, creates a new FDA process to qualify alternative nonclinical testing methods that can replace or reduce animal testing in drug development. Drug developers can request qualification for methods that improve safety/efficacy predictivity or shorten development time, with the FDA required to review requests within 180 days. If qualified, these methods allow expedited FDA review of drug applications and enable referencing the qualified method in submissions. The bill mandates annual reports tracking qualified methods, animal use reduction, and application approvals, with transparency requirements for Congress. This directly affects pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms developing new drugs.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts how credit reporting companies share homebuyers' credit reports during mortgage applications. It prevents companies from sending these reports to third parties (like marketers) just because a lender requested them for a mortgage. Only specific entities can receive the reports: the mortgage lender who originated the loan, the company servicing the loan, or the bank holding the homebuyer's account. This directly protects homebuyers' privacy by limiting unauthorized sharing of their financial data.

Maddy summaryThe Credit for Caring Act of 2024 creates a new federal tax credit for family caregivers. It allows eligible caregivers to claim a credit equal to 30% of qualified caregiving expenses (like home modifications, medical supplies, or respite care) exceeding $2,000 per year, capped at $5,000 annually. To qualify, caregivers must earn over $7,500 in income and provide care for a relative (like a spouse or parent) certified by a healthcare provider as needing long-term care for at least 180 days. The credit phases out for higher earners, with a $75,000 income threshold for single filers and $150,000 for joint returns.