Sen. Susan M. Collins

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare coverage for advance care planning services, which help individuals discuss future healthcare preferences and complete advance directives. Starting January 1, 2026, Medicare will cover 100% of these services - no deductibles or coinsurance - for beneficiaries, with providers including physicians, nurse practitioners, and clinical social workers using HCPCS codes 99497/99498. It requires HHS to conduct outreach to providers about this new coverage and mandates a MedPAC study analyzing how these services are provided and billed under Medicare. The policy directly affects Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and healthcare providers who offer these counseling sessions.

Maddy summaryThe Agency Preparation for Transitions Act of 2024 establishes a Federal Transition Coordinator within the General Services Administration to coordinate presidential transition planning across all federal agencies. It creates a White House Transition Coordinating Council to oversee the transition process and requires the Agency Transition Directors Council to meet at least monthly during election years (instead of every 6 months), with specific requirements for meetings after the election. The bill updates timing requirements for transition activities, including annual plans for handling presidential records, and mandates detailed reports to Congress on transition processes after each election. It also adds new requirements for technology management during transitions, including guidelines for email, video conferencing, and document-sharing systems. This legislation aims to improve the efficiency and security of presidential transitions by clarifying roles, responsibilities, and timelines for all involved parties.

Maddy summaryThe Invest to Protect Act of 2023 establishes a Department of Justice grant program to support local law enforcement agencies with fewer than 200 officers, including counties, municipalities, and tribal governments. It provides funding for de-escalation training, mental health resources, and recruitment/retention bonuses (like signing bonuses up to $10,000 or retention bonuses up to 20% of salary for officers with 5+ years of service). Grants may cover specific training on domestic violence, active shooter scenarios, and interactions with vulnerable populations (e.g., individuals with mental health needs or veterans), as well as mental health services for officers. The program includes accountability measures like mandatory audits, public disclosure of bonuses, and restrictions on duplicate funding, with $50 million allocated annually from existing DOJ funds for fiscal years 2024-2028.

Maddy summaryThe "Skinny Labels, Big Savings Act" (S 5573) creates a legal safe harbor to prevent patent infringement claims against generic and biosimilar drug manufacturers for marketing activities that avoid patented conditions of use. It protects actions like submitting applications for generic drugs (under FDA’s 505(j) pathway) or biosimilars (under 351(k)), promoting approved labeling, and describing drugs as generics or biosimilars - provided marketing never references the specific patented condition. This directly affects drug manufacturers seeking to market affordable alternatives and patent holders of method-of-use patents. The bill aims to reduce legal barriers to competition by clarifying that "skinny label" marketing (avoiding patented uses) does not infringe patents.

Maddy summaryThe Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (S 131) expands healthcare provider options for federal employees injured on the job by adding nurse practitioners and physician assistants to the list of eligible providers under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act. It amends the law to define "other eligible provider" as these professionals, within their state-authorized scope of practice, allowing injured workers to seek treatment from them without requiring a physician referral. The bill updates related sections of the law to replace "physician" with "physician or other eligible provider" in key provisions. Regulations implementing these changes must be finalized within six months of the bill’s enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare to separately reimburse for the software and algorithms that power automated insulin delivery systems (like continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps), which it currently does not cover. It creates a certification process for healthcare providers to ensure continuous access to covered diabetes technologies during the first 12 months of Medicare Part B enrollment, with new requirements for Medicare administrative contractors by 2026. The bill also establishes new billing codes for insulin pump training and education services and mandates a federal report assessing barriers to diabetes care access across government health programs. These changes directly affect Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes (26% of Medicare enrollees have diabetes) and healthcare providers offering diabetes management services.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the posthumous award of a Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress (1968-1982) and the first African American to seek a major party's presidential nomination (1972). The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike a gold medal featuring Chisholm's image and name, which will be presented to her family by congressional leaders. After presentation, the medal will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution for public viewing and research. The bill also authorizes the production and sale of bronze duplicates to cover costs. This is a commemorative measure honoring Chisholm's historic contributions to American politics and civil rights.

Maddy summarySRES 74 is a Senate resolution condemning Iran's state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i minority, which directly affects Baha'is in Iran facing systemic discrimination. The resolution calls on Iran to immediately release imprisoned Baha'is, end hate propaganda against them, and reverse policies denying equal access to education, jobs, and religious practice. It also urges the U.S. President and Secretary of State to demand Iran's compliance with international human rights treaties and use existing sanctions authority against Iranian officials responsible for abuses. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws but formally expresses congressional condemnation of Iran's violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Maddy summaryThe Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2024 updates and expands federal programs that support older Americans across the country. It would improve mental health services for older individuals, enhance nutrition programs with medically tailored meals, strengthen family caregiver support through better assessments, and improve elder abuse prevention efforts. The bill also includes provisions to increase access to assistive technology, improve services for Native American elders, and provide new funding levels for these programs through fiscal year 2029. These changes would directly affect millions of older Americans and their caregivers, as well as the state and community organizations that deliver these services.

Maddy summarySRES 924 is a non-binding Senate resolution designating December 14, 2024, as "National Wreaths Across America Day." It recognizes the Wreaths Across America project, which places veterans' wreaths at cemeteries nationwide, along with its volunteers, the trucking industry, patriotic escort units (like motorcycle and law enforcement groups), and donors. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely ceremonial, honoring the project's tradition of remembering fallen veterans and promoting service appreciation. It does not affect any individuals or create new laws.