Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Medicaid programs to enter into value-based purchasing (VBP) arrangements with drug manufacturers for innovative treatments like gene therapies. It codifies these arrangements by requiring states to report pricing structures based on patient outcomes and best prices for drugs sold under these agreements. The bill enables payments to be tied to treatment effectiveness, potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs by decreasing hospitalizations and other medical expenses. It also creates a requirement for a GAO study to evaluate how these arrangements impact patient access, outcomes, and healthcare system costs. The bill will sunset after 5 years, though existing VBP arrangements will continue beyond that date.

Maddy summaryHR 3283, the "Facilitating DIGITAL Applications Act," requires the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture to establish online portals for processing Form 299 applications (permits for installing communications facilities like cell towers on public lands). It mandates that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce submit regular reports to Congress every 60 days, detailing whether these departments have created such portals and any barriers preventing their use. The bill directly affects federal land management agencies and companies seeking permits for communications infrastructure on public lands or National Forest System lands. It focuses solely on reporting existing obstacles to digital processing, without creating new policies or changing land use rules.

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 summaryThis bill amends Medicare rules to ensure portable ultrasound services receive the same reimbursement treatment as portable X-ray services. It requires Medicare to provide separate payments for portable ultrasound transportation and setup services starting January 1, 2026, mirroring the current payment structure for portable X-ray services. The law directly affects Medicare beneficiaries needing these services and healthcare providers who supply them. Key provisions specify that payment requirements for ultrasound services must be substantially similar to existing regulations for portable X-ray suppliers under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends Medicare payment adjustments for physicians and other practitioners through 2025 instead of ending in 2024. It specifically adds a 4.73% payment increase for services provided between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026. The legislation modifies existing Medicare payment rules to stabilize practice revenues during transition periods. It directly affects doctors and healthcare providers who bill Medicare for patient services. The key change is the extended timeframe and the defined 4.73% rate for the 2025-2026 period.

Maddy summaryHR 9778, the PAVE Act, requires Medicare to include penicillin allergy verification during routine preventive exams and annual wellness visits for seniors aged 65 and older. The bill mandates identifying patients with self-reported penicillin allergies, assessing whether their history indicates a true allergy, explaining the health risks of a false label, and referring to specialists when needed. This applies to Medicare-covered visits starting January 1, 2025, directly affecting seniors with penicillin allergy labels in their medical records. The goal is to correct false allergies - supported by evidence showing over 90% of such labels are inaccurate - improving treatment options and reducing unnecessary healthcare costs.

Maddy summaryHR 9269, the IVF Access and Affordability Act, creates a non-refundable federal tax credit for individuals paying out-of-pocket costs for fertility treatments like IVF. It allows a $20,000 credit per person ($40,000 for joint filers) for "assisted reproductive technology" expenses, subject to income limits ($200,000 AGI for singles, $400,000 for joint filers). The credit cannot be claimed for expenses covered by insurance or previously deducted, and unused credit can be carried forward for up to five years. This directly affects individuals or families undergoing fertility treatments who pay costs not covered by insurance and meet income thresholds.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a process for Medicare to set payment rates for certain pediatric medical devices used in children's care. Manufacturers of qualifying pediatric technologies (devices approved by the FDA, covered under Medicare, and designed specifically for children or used predominantly in pediatric procedures) can request the Secretary to create national payment rates under the physician fee schedule. The Secretary must then set these rates using available data like claims or pricing information, with specific deadlines for processing requests (by May 1 for same-year implementation). This affects Medicare payments for these devices but does not change coverage requirements or guarantee payment for new technologies.

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 summaryThis bill would streamline the process for making certain oral contraceptives available over-the-counter for adults aged 18 and older. It requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to prioritize review of applications for these contraceptives (excluding emergency contraceptives or drugs also approved for abortion), waive associated fees, and ensure they remain available without a prescription after approval. Minors under 18 would still require a prescription for these contraceptives. Additionally, the bill mandates a GAO report within one year detailing federal funding for contraception across programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act health exchanges over the prior 15 years.