Rep. Mike Carey

Maddy summaryThe Veterans HSA Access Act of 2023 changes IRS rules to allow veterans who receive certain veterans benefits (like disability compensation) but do not have a service-connected disability to contribute to health savings accounts (HSAs). This removes a current barrier preventing these veterans from using HSAs to pay for qualified medical expenses. The policy change applies to tax years starting after December 31, 2025, meaning it will take effect in 2026. It directly affects veterans with non-service-connected health issues who currently cannot use HSAs despite qualifying for other veterans' benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 5796, prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from implementing a proposed rule requiring minimum staffing levels in nursing homes. It creates an advisory panel of 15 members - including rural nursing home staff and experts - to study workforce shortages and report on access barriers for seniors, especially in rural areas. The panel must submit an initial report within 60 days, analyzing staffing challenges and recommending solutions to strengthen the nursing home workforce. These provisions directly aim to prevent nursing home closures (like the 129 that occurred in 2022) that threaten rural seniors’ access to care.

Maddy summaryThe Maintaining Investments in New Innovation Act (HR 5547) extends the exclusivity period for certain advanced drugs from 7 to 11 years. It defines an "advanced drug product" as a drug using genetically targeted technology to change how genes work, such as drugs that suppress or activate gene function. The bill amends the Social Security Act to update the definition of "qualifying single source drug" to include these advanced therapies with the longer exclusivity period. This change directly affects drug manufacturers developing such advanced therapies and influences Medicare's drug coverage rules by delaying generic competition for these specific treatments.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that Medicare must cover external infusion pumps and associated non-self-administrable drugs as durable medical equipment (DME) when specific criteria are met. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries requiring home infusion therapy for drugs that must be prepared just before use, administered by a healthcare professional, or labeled for external pump use at least monthly. Key provisions require the drug's FDA labeling to specify external pump administration, safe home delivery by qualified suppliers, and preparation/administration requirements. The bill mandates Medicare coverage under existing rules (LCD L33794) for qualifying treatments, effective upon enactment or FDA approval, whichever is later.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare-participating providers (like hospitals and imaging centers) to publicly list prices for common imaging services (e.g., MRIs, X-rays) online starting in 2025. They must show the discounted cash price or standard charge for each service, updated annually, with the specific services covered defined by the government. The government will set a list of at least 50 "shoppable" imaging services by 2025 and monitor compliance, with potential penalties of up to $300 per day for non-compliance after 90 days of notice. It directly affects providers billing Medicare for imaging, aiming to make pricing clearer for patients.

Maddy summaryHR 4794, the Dietary Supplements Access Act, allows health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to cover dietary supplements as qualified medical expenses. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat payments for dietary supplements - defined under federal law (21 U.S.C. 321(ff)) - as medical care, directly affecting individuals using these accounts to pay for supplements like vitamins or minerals. Key provisions require HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs to reimburse supplement costs under the same rules as other medical expenses. The change applies to taxable years beginning after the bill’s enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare to cover genetic counseling services provided by licensed genetic counselors at 85% of the physician payment rate. It defines "genetic counselor" as a state-licensed professional (or meeting federal criteria in non-licensing states) and mandates a new billing modifier for these services starting January 1, 2024. Medicare beneficiaries seeking genetic counseling would gain expanded access to these services under this coverage. The policy change applies to services furnished on or after the effective date, with implementation via interim rule.

Maddy summaryHR 3739, the FAIR TARIFF Act of 2023, requires U.S. Customs to refund overpaid duties for specific imports from European Union countries during two defined periods: October 18-December 17, 2019, and January 12-February 10, 2022. It targets products classified under certain Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes (e.g., 9903.89.10-9903.89.49 for 2019, 9903.89.57-9903.89.59 for 2022) that were incorrectly taxed due to tariff misclassification. Importers must apply for refunds within one year of the law’s enactment, with refunds processed within 180 days of application. The bill also mandates a 60-day advance notice in the Federal Register before implementing new tariff increases under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Maddy summaryThe PASTEUR Act establishes a new subscription payment model to incentivize development of new antimicrobial drugs for resistant infections. It creates a Committee on Critical Need Antimicrobials and a Subscription Contract Office to manage payments based on specific drug characteristics like treating multi-drug resistant infections, novel mechanisms of action, and oral administration. Under this model, the government would pay drug developers up to $3 billion over 10 years for qualifying drugs, with payments tied to requirements like ensuring drug availability, reporting resistance data, and developing appropriate use plans. The bill aims to address the lack of new antimicrobial drugs by changing the funding model to reward drugs that meet specific clinical and public health needs.

Maddy summaryHR 2667, the "Fighting Trade Cheats Act of 2023," increases penalties for importers who commit customs fraud or gross negligence. It triples civil penalties for fraudulent violations (to three times the domestic value) and raises gross negligence penalties to ten times, while adding five-year import bans for fraud and two-year bans for gross negligence. The bill also allows U.S. businesses, unions, or trade groups harmed by such violations to sue violators in federal court for triple damages, attorney fees, and injunctions against further imports. Additionally, it excludes violators and their affiliated companies from the Importer of Record program, with special rules to block shell companies evading customs laws. This directly affects importers who violate customs laws and U.S. businesses competing with those imports.