Rep. Lori Trahan

Maddy summaryHR 6407, the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2023, expands Medicare coverage to include medical nutrition therapy for more chronic conditions beyond current limits. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries with conditions like obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, eating disorders, and others not previously covered under Part B. The bill amends Medicare rules to allow coverage for prevention, management, or treatment of these conditions by a wider range of providers, including registered dietitians and clinical psychologists. This change would make medically necessary nutrition services available for conditions listed in the bill, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and HIV, as determined by the Secretary.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Architect of the Capitol to create a time capsule for the U.S. Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary of independence). Congressional leadership will determine its contents, including representative materials about the Semiquincentennial, copies of key legislative milestones, and a message to future Congress. The capsule will be sealed on the Capitol's West Lawn by July 4, 2026, and remain unopened until July 4, 2276, when it will be presented to the 244th Congress for their consideration. The bill is procedural and does not affect citizens or change existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance rules to improve coverage for drugs treating rare diseases (defined as conditions affecting 200,000 or fewer people in the U.S.). It requires coverage for rare disease drug uses supported by peer-reviewed medical literature and not listed as contraindicated in FDA labeling or medical reference guides. Private insurers must provide expedited review processes for denials of such drugs. The changes apply 30 days after enactment, affecting insurers and patients seeking coverage for rare disease treatments.

Maddy summaryThe SAFE in Recovery Act protects pregnant and postpartum individuals with substance use disorders by prohibiting toxicology testing without consent and preventing child welfare investigations based solely on prescribed medications for treatment. It establishes a Federal interagency task force to coordinate services across multiple departments and allocates $500 million for community health centers to expand behavioral health services. The bill also provides $60 million annually for Head Start programs to support children from families impacted by substance use disorder. These provisions aim to improve access to care while preventing unnecessary family separations.

Maddy summaryThe DRA of 2023 adjusts Medicare payment rates for specific durable medical equipment (DME) items that were part of the 2021 competitive bidding program but for which no supplier contracts were finalized. It directly affects DME suppliers and Medicare beneficiaries by establishing a new 2024 payment formula: 90% of the adjusted payment amount plus 10% of the unadjusted fee schedule for eligible items. The bill also extends a temporary transition rule for non-rural areas through December 31, 2024, while delaying a regulatory change until 2025. These provisions aim to stabilize payments for DME items that did not transition to standard pricing under prior rules.

Maddy summaryThe CARE for Moms Act aims to reduce maternal mortality in the United States by improving healthcare access and quality for pregnant and postpartum women, with specific attention to racial disparities. Key provisions include requiring 12-month continuous Medicaid coverage for postpartum individuals (up from 60 days), expanding oral health coverage during pregnancy, and funding State-Based Perinatal Quality Collaboratives through $35 million annual grants. The bill specifically targets the higher maternal mortality rates faced by Black women, who are about 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. It also includes provisions for doula services, rural mobile health units, and improved data collection on maternal health outcomes.

Maddy summaryThe Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2023 repeals a 2018 payment adjustment for Medicare home health agencies, restoring prior payment rates for 2024 and subsequent years. It requires the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to analyze how home health agencies' financial performance affects access to care, including reviewing spending and utilization data across Medicare, Medicaid, and other payers. Starting in 2025, the bill mandates home health agencies to report detailed data on visit volumes and payments by payer source (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurers) through updated cost reports. This data will help MedPAC assess payment policy impacts on access to home health services for Medicare beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryHR 5008, the HEAL for Immigrant Families Act of 2023, would remove immigration status as a barrier to health insurance coverage for immigrants in the United States. The bill would make all lawfully present immigrants, including those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, eligible for Medicaid, CHIP, and Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies. It would eliminate state-level restrictions on Medicaid eligibility for immigrants and allow individuals with federally authorized presence to access premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. This legislation aims to address health coverage disparities that disproportionately affect immigrant communities, particularly Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other communities of color.

Maddy summaryThe 9-8-8 Implementation Act of 2023 establishes a national mental health crisis response system centered around the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline. It provides $441 million for call center technology, staffing, and operations, and requires Medicare, Medicaid, and private health plans to cover crisis response services including mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization facilities. The bill also mandates a national suicide prevention media campaign and creates protocols for 9-1-1 dispatchers to better respond to mental health crises. These provisions aim to improve access to mental health crisis care across the United States.

Maddy summaryThe Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act would require most health insurance plans to cover infertility treatment (including assisted reproductive technology like IVF) and fertility preservation services for people undergoing medical treatments that might cause infertility, such as cancer therapies. It prohibits cost-sharing (like deductibles and copays) for these services that exceeds what's charged for similar medical services and applies to private insurance, federal employee health plans, TRICARE, veterans' benefits, and Medicaid programs. The bill also requires insurers to provide clear notice to plan members about these coverage requirements. This legislation aims to ensure infertility treatment is covered similarly to other medical conditions, as recognized by medical organizations.