Rep. Michelle Steel

Maddy summaryHR 5819, the COMPLETE Care Act, incentivizes Medicare primary care providers to integrate behavioral health services by increasing payments for specific services (like mental health and substance use disorder support) during 2025-2027. Providers using designated HCPCS codes for integrated care would receive 125-175% of standard payment rates, with the percentage declining annually. The bill also requires these providers to report on integration quality measures and mandates technical assistance for practices adopting integrated models, funded through new appropriations for 2024-2027. It directly affects Medicare-participating primary care practices serving beneficiaries needing mental health or substance use services.

Maddy summaryHR 5371, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2023, updates Medicare payment rules for manual wheelchairs. It clarifies that Medicare Part B will not cover the extra cost of titanium or carbon fiber materials in a wheelchair's base, effective January 1, 2023. This specifically affects Medicare beneficiaries who use manual wheelchairs with these materials, as payments will now be calculated without including those component costs. The bill directly changes how Medicare reimburses providers for such wheelchairs by excluding these materials from the standard payment amount. This is a technical adjustment to Medicare's fee schedule, not a new benefit or eligibility change.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows employees to directly transfer funds from a health flexible spending account (FSA) or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) to a health savings account (HSA) when switching to a high-deductible health plan after a gap in coverage. It sets a dollar limit on these transfers based on annual HSA contribution rules and requires the transfer to occur after a significant period without coverage. Employers must report these transfers on employees' W-2 forms. The changes apply to distributions made after December 31, 2023.

Maddy summaryHR 5107, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Recoupment Act, extends the statute of limitations for enforcing fraud related to pandemic unemployment benefits from 3 years to 10 years across multiple programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, and Lost Wages Assistance. It requires states to recover overpayments from individuals who knowingly received benefits they weren’t entitled to, through deductions from future unemployment benefits, while maintaining existing due process protections like hearings before repayment. States may waive repayment if the overpayment wasn’t the individual’s fault or if repayment would be unfair. The bill applies directly to individuals who received pandemic-era unemployment benefits through fraudulent means, ensuring states have a longer timeframe to address these cases under established fraud procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare benefits for chronic kidney disease patients by adding kidney disease screening to annual wellness visits and broadening education options to include more healthcare professionals like nurse practitioners. It updates payment systems to better cover innovative kidney treatments, including new drugs and devices, and requires a study on increasing kidney transplant rates. The bill also aims to improve the kidney care workforce by expanding training opportunities in underserved areas and ensures Medicare Advantage plans properly cover new kidney therapies. These changes directly affect Medicare beneficiaries with kidney disease, dialysis centers, and nephrology providers, with key provisions taking effect in 2022-2024.

Maddy summaryThe Hospital and ASC Price Transparency Act of 2023 requires hospitals (starting January 1, 2026) and ambulatory surgical centers (starting January 1, 2028) that receive Medicare payments to publicly disclose detailed pricing information for at least 300 "shoppable services" (services consumers can schedule in advance). Facilities must provide standard charges, discounted cash prices, and payer-specific negotiated rates in a consumer-friendly, machine-readable format that's free and accessible online without requiring subscriptions or personal information. Non-compliant facilities face daily civil monetary penalties of up to $2 million per year, with hardship waivers available for rural or underserved facilities. The Department of Health and Human Services will monitor compliance and publish enforcement information on its website, including details about non-compliant facilities and penalties imposed.

Maddy summaryHR 4794, the Dietary Supplements Access Act, allows health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to cover dietary supplements as qualified medical expenses. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat payments for dietary supplements - defined under federal law (21 U.S.C. 321(ff)) - as medical care, directly affecting individuals using these accounts to pay for supplements like vitamins or minerals. Key provisions require HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs to reimburse supplement costs under the same rules as other medical expenses. The change applies to taxable years beginning after the bill’s enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 4307, the Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act, establishes a framework for the U.S. to negotiate agreements with trusted foreign partners to secure reliable supplies of critical medical goods like drugs and devices. It directs the President to create "trusted trade partner agreements" with countries that maintain open trade during health emergencies, protect intellectual property, and reduce unnecessary trade barriers. These agreements would eliminate duties or restrictions on medical goods, diversify supplier networks, and harmonize regulatory standards to prevent shortages like those seen during the pandemic. The bill directly affects U.S. manufacturers, healthcare providers, and importers by aiming to reduce over-reliance on a few nations for essential medical products.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Medicare rules to improve access to home infusion therapy, which delivers IV medications at home for conditions like chronic diseases. It adds pharmacy services (including drug preparation and compounding) to covered Medicare benefits and creates a payment rule: if a supplier isn't physically present during therapy, Medicare pays 50% of the full rate instead of denying payment. It also allows nurse practitioners and physician assistants to establish and review home infusion care plans, previously limited to physicians. These changes, effective January 2024, directly affect Medicare beneficiaries requiring home infusion therapy and providers delivering these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Medicare-only PACE program enrollees (those not on Medicaid) to choose a standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan starting in 2025, instead of being limited to their PACE provider's plan. It requires PACE programs to inform members about this option and help them select a "qualified standalone" plan that meets cost criteria (equal or lower out-of-pocket costs and subsidies compared to the PACE plan). PACE programs must monitor drug use and share claims data with the chosen drug plan to coordinate care, and they will no longer receive payment for drug coverage when members enroll in an outside plan. The change applies to PACE enrollees who qualify under Medicare Part D, not Medicaid.