Rep. John Joyce

Maddy summaryThe Load Forecasting Enhancement Act requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to create regional joint boards made up of state commission representatives and a commission member to study how electric utilities predict energy demand. These boards will investigate methods to improve the accuracy and transparency of these forecasts to ensure reliable and affordable electricity service, then report their findings to Congress within a year. Once the report is submitted, the law mandates that state regulators incorporate these recommended forecasting standards into their oversight of electric utilities, while exempting nonregulated utilities from certain requirements. Additionally, the bill updates existing energy laws to include procedures for improving the accuracy and transparency of load forecasting in state energy conservation plans.

Maddy summaryThe AADAPT Act reauthorizes and expands Project ECHO grants to improve Alzheimer’s and dementia care through technology-enabled training. It specifically funds grants for healthcare providers in rural, frontier, or medically underserved areas to enhance early diagnosis, quality care, and provider retention for dementia patients. The bill authorizes $1 million annually (2027-2032) for these dementia-focused training programs, requiring funds to supplement - not replace - existing resources. This directly supports primary care providers licensed to serve underserved communities, using collaborative online learning to address care gaps.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare to create separate payment codes for ultralightweight manual wheelchairs based on their frame material (specifically titanium or carbon fiber vs. other materials), starting in 2026. It ensures Medicare pays the standard rate for titanium/carbon fiber wheelchairs regardless of material, while allowing suppliers to charge beneficiaries the difference between Medicare's payment and their actual cost. Beneficiaries must receive a notice about potential additional costs before purchasing or renting such wheelchairs. The bill directly affects Medicare beneficiaries needing these specialized wheelchairs and the suppliers who provide them.

Maddy summaryHR 1266, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, adds xylazine - a veterinary sedative increasingly found in illicit drug mixtures - to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, regulating its use and trafficking. It directly affects veterinarians, animal owners, and manufacturers by allowing xylazine to be legally dispensed for animal use under specific veterinary prescriptions, while prohibiting non-veterinary human use. The bill includes transition periods (60 days for practitioners, 1 year for labeling) to ease compliance for manufacturers and practitioners, and requires the DEA and FDA to expedite necessary applications. It also mandates two congressional reports on xylazine's illicit use and trafficking patterns, and directs the Sentencing Commission to review penalties for offenses involving xylazine.

Maddy summaryThe Patients First Act of 2026 modifies how Medicare reimburses physicians and primary care providers to improve access and stabilize payments. It establishes a new hybrid payment model for primary care services from 2027 to 2031, which pays a monthly fee per patient to eligible independent practices while covering specific services like care management and telehealth without cost-sharing for patients. The bill also updates the formula for calculating reimbursement rates to account for high inflation years and requires more frequent updates to the costs used in calculating payments. Additionally, the legislation reforms the performance-based payment system by adding care efficiency measures, creating a task force to recommend new quality metrics, and adjusting penalties for providers who fail to report on certain data.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.

Maddy summaryThe SECURE 340B Act strengthens oversight of the drug discount program for safety-net health care providers by establishing clearer definitions for patients and prescribing providers, requiring detailed record-keeping to prove a legitimate patient relationship. The bill introduces strict rules for contract pharmacies, mandating that manufacturers cannot restrict discounts based on their use and requiring full transparency on where these drugs are dispensed. It also expands eligibility for child sites of covered entities while imposing a new community need standard based on geographic vulnerability scores to prevent abuse. To improve program integrity, the legislation creates a centralized data clearinghouse to track claims and prevent duplicate discounts, while simultaneously prohibiting discriminatory practices by insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers against covered entities. Finally, the Act authorizes new user fees and additional funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration to support expanded audits and enforcement activities.

Maddy summaryThe Kidney Disease Education Access Expansion Act of 2026 expands Medicare coverage to include kidney disease education services for individuals with hypertension, diabetes, or any stage of chronic kidney disease, rather than limiting them to those with advanced disease. This bill broadens the range of eligible providers to include community health workers and clinical social workers, allows these services to be delivered in group settings or with caregivers present, and adds new topics such as transition assistance for transplant recipients. Starting in 2027, the law also requires private health insurance plans to cover these education services and establishes a working group to develop methods for measuring the effectiveness of the program.

Maddy summaryThe Medicare Advantage Cost Transparency Act requires Medicare Advantage plans to include specific cost details in their data submissions starting in 2027. This change mandates that records show the allowed amount for services and the exact cost-sharing amounts, such as deductibles and copayments, that patients must pay. Additionally, the bill requires plans to note whether a patient received an at-home health risk assessment from a company related to the plan or from an independent provider. The primary goal is to increase financial clarity for individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans by making billing information more transparent.

Maddy summaryThe Access to Innovative Treatments Act of 2026 changes how Medicare reviews decisions to deny or limit coverage for new drugs and biological products. It requires the Medicare administrator to start a review within 90 days of a request, includes a 30-day period for public comments, and mandates a final decision within 120 days that must address those comments. The bill also prevents Medicare from applying old coverage rules to newly approved or licensed drugs if those rules would contradict the current approval. Additionally, it stops prescription drug plans from using outdated coverage decisions to deny payment for new medications. These changes directly affect Medicare beneficiaries, drug manufacturers, and the Medicare program administrators.