Rep. Troy Balderson

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent Medicare coverage for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services delivered via telehealth in patients' homes, which were temporarily allowed during the pandemic. It removes geographic restrictions that previously required in-person visits or limited services to specific locations like clinics. The change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries needing heart or lung rehabilitation and healthcare providers offering these programs. It ensures home-based telehealth visits for cardiac, intensive cardiac, and pulmonary rehabilitation receive the same coverage as in-clinic services under Medicare.

Maddy summaryHR 1110, the KEEP Telehealth Options Act of 2023, requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study pandemic-era telehealth expansions in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP programs through December 2024. The bill mandates HHS to report on telehealth service availability, provider reimbursement rules, usage patterns (including by rural, minority, low-income, and elderly populations), and mental health service use. It also directs MedPAC and MACPAC to study access barriers and potential fraud risks in telehealth services during this period. The reports, due within 1-18 months, will inform future policy decisions about telehealth coverage. This legislation focuses on gathering data to evaluate existing telehealth policies, not on changing them.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals specific provisions from the Affordable Care Act and its 2010 amendment that restricted certain physician referrals to hospitals under Medicare. It directly affects hospitals and physicians who previously faced limitations on referring Medicare patients to facilities they owned or had financial ties with. The key mechanism restores the original rules that allowed such referrals without the prior restrictions, effectively undoing the 2010 changes. This is a procedural change to existing law, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryHR 497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, eliminates a federal requirement for healthcare workers in Medicare and Medicaid programs to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The bill directly affects healthcare providers who treat patients under these federally funded programs by preventing the enforcement of the November 2021 HHS rule mandating staff vaccinations. Its key provision prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from implementing, enforcing, or creating a similar rule regarding vaccination for these workers. This bill changes the policy by removing a specific vaccine mandate for providers in Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Maddy summaryHR 407, the "Protect the UNBORN Act," prohibits federal agencies from implementing or enforcing two specific executive orders issued by President Biden in 2022 (Executive Orders 14076 and 14079), which aimed to protect access to reproductive healthcare services. The bill bans the use of federal funds, including those from the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, to carry out, administer, or enforce these executive orders. It directly affects federal agencies and programs that would otherwise comply with the Biden administration's policies on reproductive healthcare access. The bill does not create new healthcare rules but blocks the implementation of existing executive actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans federal funding for abortions in most cases, prohibiting the use of taxpayer money for abortion services or health insurance plans covering abortion. Exceptions allow funding for abortions resulting from rape, incest, or when a pregnancy endangers a woman's life. It requires health insurance plans sold through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces to clearly disclose any separate costs for abortion coverage and prohibits ACA subsidies from being used for plans that cover abortion (except in the specified exceptions). The law directly affects federal programs like Medicaid, ACA marketplace plans, and insurers offering health coverage to individuals using federal subsidies.

Maddy summaryHJRES 181 is a congressional resolution seeking to block a Department of Labor rule that defined "Employer-Association Health Plans." The bill would prevent this specific rule - published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2024 - from taking effect. It directly affects employers and health plan administrators who use these association-based health coverage models. If passed, the rule would have no legal force, reversing the Labor Department's regulatory definition.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies federal regulations for commercial driver's license (CDL) testing. It requires the Transportation Secretary to update two rules within 90 days: first, to set new standards for examiners (requiring valid certification, specific training, and instruction units); second, to allow any state to administer skills tests to CDL applicants regardless of where the applicant lives or received training. The bill directly affects CDL applicants, states administering tests, and third-party examiners. Key changes simplify examiner qualifications and remove geographic restrictions on skills testing locations.

Maddy summaryHR 7438 directs the U.S. Treasury to mint commemorative coins for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including 100,000 $5 gold coins, 500,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins. The coins will be sold to the public at face value plus surcharges ($35, $10, and $5 per coin, respectively), with all surcharge revenue paid to FWC2026 US, Inc. for U.S. soccer programs. These funds must support soccer initiatives, particularly in underserved communities and youth development, as specified in the bill. The coins are legal tender but will only be issued during 2026, with no net cost to the U.S. government.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends funding for the existing Public Health Service Act program focused on raising public awareness about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It authorizes $33 million annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to support public health education and outreach initiatives. The program directly affects public health organizations and community groups that develop and distribute educational materials about Alzheimer's prevention, diagnosis, and care. The key provision is the multi-year funding extension, ensuring continued support for nationwide awareness efforts without altering the program's core structure.