Sen. John R. Curtis

Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2022 This bill establishes several requirements and standards relating to prior authorization processes under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Specifically, MA plans must (1) establish an electronic prior authorization program that meets specified standards, including the ability to provide real-time decisions in response to requests for items and services that are routinely approved; (2) annually publish specified prior authorization information, including the percentage of requests approved and the average response time; and (3) meet other standards, as set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, relating to the quality and timeliness of prior authorization determinations.

Maddy summaryHRES 1352 is a non-binding House resolution supporting the designation of "Telehealth Awareness Week." It does not create new laws or policies but aims to raise public awareness about telehealth's benefits. The resolution highlights telehealth's role in expanding access to care, especially for rural and underserved communities, and notes high patient satisfaction rates among Medicare beneficiaries. It serves as a symbolic gesture to promote ongoing discussion about telehealth's value in healthcare.

Wildfire Recovery Act This bill makes changes with respect to the federal cost share for Fire Management Assistance Grants and provides that the federal share shall be not less than 75% of the eligible cost. Specifically, the bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct and complete a rulemaking to provide criteria for the circumstances under which FEMA may recommend that the President increase the federal cost share. Such criteria shall include a threshold metric that assesses the financial impact to a state or local government from responding to a fire for which fire management assistance is being provided.

Hong Kong Business Integrity and Transparency Act This bill requires the Department of Commerce to submit periodic reports to Congress on the protection of consumer information in the possession of U.S. firms operating in Hong Kong. The report must include information on requests by the government of Hong Kong for consumer information, content takedowns, or law enforcement assistance.

Save Our Sequoias Act This bill provides for the conservation of giant sequoia trees ( Sequoiadendron giganteum ) in California, including by providing statutory authority for the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition; directing the coalition to submit a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment; declaring an emergency on certain public lands and allowing officials to carry out protection plans during the emergency to respond to the threat of wildfires, insects, and drought; directing the Department of the Interior to develop and implement a Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy; and establishing a variety of programs and funds to support the conservation of giant sequoias.

Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the legacy of Harriet Tubman as an abolitionist. The Secretary may issue coins under this bill only during the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. All surcharges received by Treasury from the sale of such coins must be paid equally to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and The Harriet Tubman Home, Inc. in Auburn, New York, for the purpose of accomplishing and advancing their missions.

This resolution urges the International Olympic Committee to recognize with a minute of silence at every future Olympics Opening Ceremony those who lost their lives at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

National Plan to End Parkinson's Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out a project to prevent and cure Parkinson's disease (a progressive brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements) and related conditions. Among other components of the project, HHS must (1) implement and periodically update a national plan to coordinate and guide efforts to prevent and cure the disease; (2) improve diagnosis, treatment, and care of those with the disease; and (3) address health and other disparities related to the disease. HHS must also conduct annual assessments on the preparation for and response to the increased burden of Parkinson's disease. In addition, the bill establishes a council, comprised of federal and nonfederal stakeholders, to advise HHS on and make recommendations concerning the prevention and cure of Parkinson's disease. The bill's provisions terminate at the end of calendar year 2035.

Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 a pediatric disease research initiative within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and requires the NIH to coordinate pediatric research activities to avoid duplicative efforts. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services must report, within five years, to Congress about research funded through the initiative.

Maddy summaryHR 8497 removes a requirement that Medicare patients must have an initial in-person visit before receiving mental health services via telehealth. This change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking mental health care, particularly those in rural areas or with mobility challenges, by allowing them to access these services remotely from their first appointment. Key provisions eliminate geographic restrictions for telehealth mental health visits starting July 1, 2019 (for substance use disorder treatment) and after the end of the pandemic emergency period (for general mental health care). The bill applies to services provided through standard telehealth platforms and does not alter Medicare coverage amounts or funding.