Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes establishing a new public health insurance program called Medicare for America, which would provide comprehensive health coverage to all U.S. residents and lawfully present individuals starting in 2026. The program would include automatic enrollment for current Medicare beneficiaries, people turning 65, and those without other qualified health coverage, while allowing individuals with employer-sponsored insurance to opt out. The legislation creates a unified Medicare Trust Fund funded through a 5 percent surtax on incomes above $500,000, a 4 percent Medicare payroll tax, a 6.9 percent net investment income tax, and various excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks. The program would cover all essential health benefits including dental, vision, hearing, and abortion services, with no deductibles and an annual out-of-pocket limit of $3,500 for individuals. The bill includes provisions to negotiate prescription drug prices directly with manufacturers, establish a Prescription Drug and Medical Device Price Review Board to identify and penalize excessive pricing, and implement safe staffing requirements for hospitals. It also repeals the 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage for people with disabilities and eliminates the waiting period for individuals on state Medicaid waiting lists.

Maddy summaryThe National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2023 establishes a new federal bank to provide financial assistance for infrastructure projects across the United States. The bank will offer direct loans, loan guarantees, and other financial support specifically for four types of infrastructure: energy (transmission, efficiency), environmental (water systems, flood protection), telecommunications, and transportation (roads, bridges, transit). To qualify for assistance, projects must demonstrate public benefit, prioritize job creation and economic growth, and meet specific criteria related to environmental impact and community needs. The bill authorizes $5 billion annually for fiscal years 2027-2031 to fund the bank's operations and initial projects, with oversight by a Director appointed by the President and a focus on domestic content requirements for materials.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes legal rights for individuals to access fertility treatment without restrictions inconsistent with widely accepted medical standards. It requires health insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program to cover fertility treatment when they cover obstetrical services, defining fertility treatment broadly to include procedures like in vitro fertilization, genetic testing, and medication. The bill creates specific fertility treatment benefits for military members and veterans, including counseling and treatment without regard to sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. It also establishes enforcement mechanisms, allowing individuals to sue if their rights are violated or the Attorney General to take action against states implementing restrictive laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill caps patient out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs under health insurance plans. It prohibits group health plans and insurers from requiring patients to pay more in deductibles, coinsurance, or copays for covered outpatient drugs dispensed at in-network pharmacies than the nationwide average consumer price for that drug (based on Social Security Act data). The law applies to all health insurance plans covered under the Public Health Service Act, ERISA, and Internal Revenue Code, directly affecting insured patients who fill prescriptions at participating pharmacies. The key mechanism ensures patient costs never exceed the national average drug price, using existing federal pricing data without creating new administrative requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 8796, the "Stop Comstock Act," removes outdated restrictions from federal law that previously banned the distribution of materials related to contraception and abortion as "obscene" or "indecent." The bill amends Title 18 and the Tariff Act by deleting references to "indecent," "immoral," "unlawful abortion," and "procuring abortion" from provisions governing obscene materials. It clarifies that the law only prohibits "obscene materials" in commerce, eliminating broad restrictions on reproductive health information. This directly affects internet platforms, healthcare providers, and individuals sharing reproductive health resources by removing legal barriers to their distribution.

Maddy summaryThe Essential Caregivers Act of 2024 requires nursing homes and similar facilities to allow residents to designate essential caregivers who provide emotional support or assistance with daily activities. During emergencies when regular visitation is restricted, facilities must permit at least one essential caregiver access to residents daily and cannot deny access without following specific procedures. Facilities may deny access for a maximum of 7 days during emergencies (or 14 days with state approval), and must provide a written explanation and appeal process if access is denied. The bill establishes a 48-hour appeal process for residents and caregivers to challenge denials, with facilities required to prove violations during appeals. This law applies to Medicare skilled nursing facilities, Medicaid nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, and certain inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

Maddy summaryThe Access to Scalp Cooling Therapy Act of 2024 would require most health insurance plans to cover scalp cooling devices (such as cooling caps) for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, with the same financial requirements as anticancer drugs. This applies to group health plans, individual health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, VA benefits, and the federal employee health benefits program. The bill defines scalp cooling items as devices used to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy and mandates that copays, deductibles, and other financial requirements match those for anticancer drugs. The coverage requirement would take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHR 7641, the Justice for Patients Act, prohibits health insurance plans and issuers from requiring patients to use pre-dispute arbitration or blocking class-action lawsuits for coverage-related claims. It directly affects all patients with group or individual health insurance plans and the insurance companies offering those plans. The bill bans two specific contract terms: mandatory arbitration clauses for health coverage disputes and limitations on class actions for plan administration issues. If enacted, these provisions would be unenforceable under federal law, ensuring patients retain their right to pursue legal action in court.

Maddy summaryHR 6063, the Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2023, modifies unemployment insurance rules to provide benefits for workers unable to work due to strikes or lockouts. It directs that unemployment compensation begins 14 days after a strike starts, or earlier if permanent replacements are hired, a lockout begins, or the dispute ends. The bill directly affects workers participating in labor disputes by making them eligible for benefits under these specific conditions, rather than requiring them to meet standard job search requirements. This change is implemented through amendments to the Internal Revenue Code and Social Security Act.

Maddy summaryThe Medicare Advantage Consumer Protection and Transparency Act requires Medicare Advantage plans to submit detailed, standardized data about supplemental benefits, healthcare services provided (encounter data), coverage denials, prior authorization requirements, quality measures, and provider networks. Plans must submit this information annually in standardized formats, with penalties of up to 10% in reduced payments for incomplete submissions. The data will be publicly reported, increasing transparency for beneficiaries and oversight officials. This law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans and beneficiaries by providing clearer information about plan offerings and performance. It focuses on concrete data collection and reporting requirements rather than altering benefit structures.