Rep. Chris Pappas

Maddy summaryHR 8018, the ABC Act, requires Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and Social Security Administration to review their eligibility processes, forms, and communications to simplify interactions for family caregivers. It targets reducing duplicate paperwork, improving website accessibility (including ADA compliance), and enhancing staff communication - such as shorter call waits and multilingual support - to better serve caregivers supporting individuals enrolled in these programs. The review must include input from caregivers and organizations, with results reported to Congress within one year. This procedural bill does not change program benefits but mandates systemic improvements to reduce administrative burdens.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare to provide clear outreach and education so Medicare beneficiaries (enrolled in Part A, Part B, or Medicare Advantage plans) can authorize family caregivers to access their health information via 1-800-MEDICARE. It mandates the inclusion of a specific authorization form (CMS-10106) in Medicare notices and on Medicare.gov, along with training for call center staff. The Secretary must also share best practices to prevent fraud related to caregiver access and make materials available in non-English languages. It directly affects beneficiaries, their family caregivers, healthcare providers, and Medicare call center operators.

Maddy summaryHR 7142 (Alternatives to PAIN Act) requires Medicare Part D plans to cover non-opioid pain management drugs with no deductible and at the lowest copay level starting in 2025. It defines "qualifying non-opioid drugs" as FDA-approved medications that don’t act on opioid receptors (like certain NSAIDs or nerve pain treatments), excluding opioids and schedule I-III drugs. The bill prohibits Medicare plans from forcing patients to try opioids first (step therapy) or requiring prior approval for these non-opioid options. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries needing pain management, especially those seeking alternatives to opioids for post-surgical or acute pain. The policy change aims to improve access to non-addictive pain treatments while preserving doctors' authority to prescribe medically appropriate care.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 6860, protects patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) who require dialysis by preventing health insurance plans from discriminating against them. It amends Medicare rules to prohibit plans from treating dialysis coverage differently than other medical services based on a patient’s ESRD diagnosis, need for dialysis, or any other factor. The bill clarifies that plans can still choose which dialysis providers to include in their networks but cannot deny or limit coverage for dialysis services solely because of the patient’s condition. It ensures Medicare remains the secondary payer for these services as intended, without forcing plans to cover specific providers.

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 summaryHR 6110, the Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Act of 2023, would change how Medicare determines eligibility for inpatient rehabilitation therapy. It restores physicians' authority to modify a patient's therapy plan after admission to include additional medically necessary services - such as recreational or respiratory therapy - beyond the current four required therapies (physical, occupational, speech therapy, and orthotics/prosthetics). This applies to Medicare beneficiaries in inpatient rehabilitation facilities who already meet the initial requirement of needing at least two of the core therapies at admission. The change takes effect after December 31, 2023, allowing treatment teams to tailor care more flexibly based on patient needs.

Maddy summaryHR 5840, the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act of 2024, simplifies the process for transportation workers to obtain multiple TSA security credentials. It requires the TSA to allow individuals to apply for and renew programs like the TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) and HAZMAT Endorsement through a single enrollment at any TSA center, with a combined fee lower than separate applications. The bill mandates coordinated expiration dates for all credentials and ensures state-issued commercial driver's licenses reflect the correct HAZMAT endorsement validity. These changes aim to reduce duplication and costs for workers needing multiple security clearances. The TSA must implement these changes within two years and publish details online.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans (both private and Medicare) to cover routine patient costs for children with rare pediatric diseases participating in approved clinical trials, even when care is provided by non-network providers. Specifically, it mandates that insurers apply the same copay or coinsurance rate for non-participating providers as they would for in-network providers during clinical trial participation. The law expands the definition of "routine costs" to include consultation and referral services related to these trials and updates Medicare coverage rules to align with this requirement. These changes apply to plans beginning January 1, 2024, directly affecting families of children with rare pediatric cancers enrolled in qualifying clinical trials.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent Medicare coverage for telehealth services provided by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), including audio-only visits. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries who use these services and the FQHCs/RHCs delivering them by removing location restrictions - allowing telehealth visits to occur regardless of the patient's geographic location. Key provisions include permanently covering audio-only telehealth (previously temporary), treating telehealth visits as equivalent to in-person visits for payment, and ensuring costs for telehealth are included in FQHC/RHC payment calculations. These changes simplify access to telehealth for rural and underserved communities while maintaining consistent Medicare reimbursement for providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill automatically extends Medicare Part D drug coverage subsidies to low-income Medicaid beneficiaries who turn 65. Specifically, it changes eligibility rules so that individuals enrolled in Medicaid under certain state plans (as defined in Section 1902(a)(10)(A)) with income below 200% of the poverty line will be treated as subsidy-eligible for Medicare Part D when they reach age 65. This eliminates the need for separate applications during the transition to Medicare. The change applies to Medicare Part D plan years starting January 1, 2024, directly affecting Medicaid beneficiaries who meet these income and enrollment criteria.