Sen. Roger Marshall

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Department of Labor to create new regulations clarifying disclosure rules for payments from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and third-party administrators to employer-sponsored health plans. It mandates that employers disclose both direct payments (like fees) and indirect payments (like rebates) these entities receive. The regulations must be implemented within one year of the bill becoming law. This directly affects employers who sponsor health insurance plans by requiring transparency about compensation from pharmacy service providers.

Maddy summaryS 1542, the DRUG Act, prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from charging fees tied to drug prices or rebates for services provided to health plans or insurers, effective January 1, 2026. Instead, PBMs may only charge a fixed "flat service fee" agreed upon in writing, not linked to drug costs or patient usage. The bill also bans PBMs from reimbursing affiliated pharmacies more than independent ones, charging health plans different amounts than they pay pharmacies, or steering patients to affiliated pharmacies through higher out-of-pocket costs. Violations trigger $10,000 daily civil penalties enforced by the HHS Secretary with Labor and Treasury. This directly affects PBMs, health insurers, employer health plans, and pharmacies, aiming to reduce cost-shifting and promote fair reimbursement practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits federal funds allocated for substance use disorder treatment from being used to purchase or distribute pipes or cylindrical objects intended for smoking illegal scheduled drugs. It directly affects federal treatment programs receiving funding, requiring them to avoid using these funds for such items. The key mechanism is a specific restriction on the use of federal dollars, not a ban on the pipes themselves. The bill does not change drug laws or criminal penalties but limits how treatment funding can be spent. (3 sentences)

Maddy summaryThis bill amends federal meat and poultry inspection laws to allow businesses to sell State-inspected meat and poultry products online. It permits retail stores, restaurants, and similar establishments to ship these products directly to household consumers via mail or carrier, in normal retail quantities, within the U.S. (excluding exports). The change specifically applies to products inspected under state programs, not federal inspection, and affects small businesses that previously could not legally sell such products online. The law does not change inspection standards but removes a barrier to direct-to-consumer e-commerce for these products.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare coverage to include pharmacist services in designated underserved areas. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries in health professional shortage areas, medically underserved areas, or medically underserved populations, as well as pharmacists licensed to provide these services. Key provisions require Medicare to cover pharmacist services (like those typically provided by physicians) in these areas and set payment at 80% of the lesser of the actual charge or 85% of the physician fee schedule. The changes take effect January 1, 2024, and require new billing codes for pharmacists.

Maddy summaryThe Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Shab-eh-nay Band Reservation Settlement Act of 2023 resolves a historical land dispute by affirming the Tribe's ownership of approximately 129 acres (the "Repurchased Lands") within a 1,280-acre reservation in Illinois. It ends the Tribe's legal ownership of the remaining reservation land, confirming that the State of Illinois, Dekalb County, and other non-Indian occupants have clear title to that land as of 1849. The bill requires the Tribe to waive all claims against the U.S. government and these occupants, and provides $50 million over five years for the Tribe to support economic development and acquire up to 1,151 additional acres within the reservation or a designated "Replacement Area." This settlement aims to address historical injustices while clarifying land ownership for the Tribe and surrounding communities.

Maddy summaryS 1495, the HEAT Act, establishes a USDA working group to help farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses adopt industrial heat pumps - technology that recycles waste heat to power agricultural and commercial processes. The bill directs USDA agencies to create educational materials, provide technical support, and coordinate with land-grant universities to build expertise on these systems. It also amends the Rural Energy for America Program to explicitly include industrial heat pump installations in eligible projects. The Secretary must submit annual reports tracking adoption rates, awareness levels, and barriers faced by rural businesses. This bill directly affects rural energy users by improving access to technical assistance and funding for heat pump technology.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a National Task Force to comprehensively review the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China, and federal, state, and local actions under both the Trump and Biden administrations. The 12-member Task Force, appointed by congressional leaders from both parties (with no more than 6 from the same party), will examine preparedness, response efforts, health disparities, and identify gaps in public health systems to improve future pandemic responses. It must submit an interim report within 180 days and a final report within 18 months, with recommendations for addressing vulnerabilities in public health systems and supporting at-risk populations. The Task Force will have authority to hold hearings, request documents, and access government information to carry out its review while maintaining political balance and independence from current government employees.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SRES 200) expresses support for designating April 30-May 6, 2023, as "National Small Business Week" to honor small businesses and entrepreneurs across the United States. It recognizes that small businesses (over 33 million nationwide supporting 62 million jobs) are vital to the U.S. economy and highlights their resilience. The resolution specifically calls for celebrating their contributions, acknowledging challenges they face, and supporting efforts to improve access for underserved small businesses. As a symbolic gesture - not a law - it does not create new policies or funding but formally recognizes small business impact.

Maddy summaryS 1447 establishes a federal grant program to fund violence intervention and prevention programs at trauma centers and partnering nonprofits. It provides $250,000-$500,000 per 3-year grant to eligible entities serving communities with at least 100 annual intentional violent trauma incidents (excluding intimate partner violence). Grantees must report on program outcomes, with the Secretary developing public best practices by 2029 based on these reports. The program, funded at $10 million over four years, prioritizes geographic diversity and high-violence communities.