Medicare Patient Empowerment Act of 2023 This bill allows any Medicare beneficiary to enter into a contract with an eligible professional, regardless of whether the professional is a participating or non-participating physician or practitioner, for any item or service covered by Medicare. Such beneficiaries may submit a claim for Medicare payment in the amount that would otherwise apply, except that, where the professional is considered to be non-participating, payment shall be paid as if the professional were participating. An eligible professional is a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife, clinical social worker, clinical psychologist, registered dietitian or nutrition professional, physical or occupational therapist, qualified speech-language pathologist, or qualified audiologist. A Medicare beneficiary must agree in writing in such a contract to (1) pay the eligible professional for a Medicare-covered item or service; and (2) submit, in lieu of the eligible professional, a claim for Medicare payment. However, a beneficiary may negotiate, as a term of the contract, for the eligible professional to file such claims on the beneficiary's behalf. The bill preempts state laws from limiting the amount of charges for physician and practitioner services for which Medicare payment is made.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires commercial fishing vessel operators and crew to receive safety training addressing behavioral and physical health risks, including substance use disorder and fatigue. It increases annual funding for these programs from $3 million to $6 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The bill also allows the Department of Transportation to transfer funds to the Department of Health and Human Services to administer the training grant programs. These changes directly affect commercial fishing crews and vessel operators by mandating new wellness-focused safety training and providing dedicated funding for implementation.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal law to expand substance abuse treatment services for children, adolescents, and young adults to include suicide prevention and treatment. It specifically adds "suicide" to covered conditions and requires grant-funded programs to provide parental counseling on preventing overdose/suicide and supply safety tools (like lockboxes) to reduce access to lethal means. The law directs at least $2 million annually from federal grants toward these services, targeting providers including children's hospitals, emergency departments, tribal health programs, and pediatric specialists. It affects youth aged 12-25 and their families by integrating suicide prevention into existing substance abuse treatment funding streams. The changes apply to programs operating under the SUPPORT Act from 2024-2028.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits U.S. federal agencies from purchasing cookware, utensils, carpets, or furniture containing PFOS or PFOA starting October 1, 2025. It requires agencies to prioritize buying products that do not contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) when available. The law directly affects all executive agencies defined under federal procurement rules, mandating a shift toward safer chemical alternatives in their purchasing decisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2219 (PUMP Technical Correction Act), makes a minor technical correction to existing law regarding breastfeeding accommodations for congressional employees. It updates references in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to correctly include specific sections related to breastfeeding coverage (sections 12(c), 18D, and 218d). The change does not alter the coverage itself or the rights of employees; it only fixes an outdated reference in the legal text. This technical correction directly affects congressional employees who rely on the existing breastfeeding accommodation provisions.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates November 2023 as "National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month" to highlight the issue of homelessness among children and youth. It cites statistics including 1.2 million homeless children identified in U.S. schools during the 2021-2022 school year and higher risks of health issues, school disruption, and suicide among homeless youth. The resolution encourages businesses, governments, schools, and organizations to raise awareness, share information about causes and solutions, and support efforts to prevent homelessness during that month. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but aims to foster voluntary community action.
Maddy summaryThe Restore Honor to Service Members Act of 2023 establishes a Department of Defense "Tiger Team" to help former service members with certain discharge characterizations (discharged under pre-2011 policies like "former section 654") seek review of their military records. The team will collaborate with veterans' groups, the VA, and other stakeholders to identify eligible veterans, contact them about the review process, and simplify the request by removing documentation requirements. It mandates regular reports to Congress on outreach efforts, the number of veterans contacted, and outcomes, including how many received honorable discharge upgrades. The bill also clarifies that veterans' benefits from the change in discharge status apply from the effective date of the review, not retroactively.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SRES 466) urges the U.S. Senate to provide advice and consent for ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a treaty the U.S. has not joined despite being a party to related 1958 conventions. By ratifying UNCLOS, the U.S. would gain full participation in international ocean governance forums, strengthen its legal position on maritime disputes (such as in the South China Sea and Arctic), and improve its ability to defend U.S. interests in ocean-related negotiations. The resolution emphasizes that current U.S. non-participation limits its influence in resolving territorial conflicts and managing critical maritime resources.
Maddy summarySRES 459 is a ceremonial Senate resolution recognizing November 2023 as National Native American Heritage Month and the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day, as specified in the 2009 Native American Heritage Day Act. It does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges Native Americans' contributions to U.S. history, culture, and society through "appropriate programs and activities." The resolution highlights historical context, including Native American cultural preservation, military service, and influences on U.S. governance, without imposing obligations on any entity. It directly affects the general public by encouraging observance during November 2023. This is a symbolic gesture, not a policy change.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to immediately reinstate canceled oil and gas leases in Alaska's Coastal Plain (specifically tracts 16, 17, 24, 26, 27, and 30) by accepting the highest valid bids from the 2021 lease sale within 30 days of enactment. It mandates a second lease sale by December 2024, withdraws the Bureau of Land Management's proposed rule on the National Petroleum Reserve, and nullifies Executive Order 13990 and Secretarial Order 3401 that had paused leasing. The bill also blocks judicial review of agency actions related to the leasing program and directs agencies to process existing permits and approvals under the 2020 Record of Decision. It directly affects federal agencies (Interior, EPA), oil companies holding or seeking leases, and the management of the Coastal Plain oil and gas program.