Rep. Joe Courtney

Maddy summaryHR 6110, the Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Act of 2023, would change how Medicare determines eligibility for inpatient rehabilitation therapy. It restores physicians' authority to modify a patient's therapy plan after admission to include additional medically necessary services - such as recreational or respiratory therapy - beyond the current four required therapies (physical, occupational, speech therapy, and orthotics/prosthetics). This applies to Medicare beneficiaries in inpatient rehabilitation facilities who already meet the initial requirement of needing at least two of the core therapies at admission. The change takes effect after December 31, 2023, allowing treatment teams to tailor care more flexibly based on patient needs.

Maddy summaryHR 6063, the Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2023, modifies unemployment insurance rules to provide benefits for workers unable to work due to strikes or lockouts. It directs that unemployment compensation begins 14 days after a strike starts, or earlier if permanent replacements are hired, a lockout begins, or the dispute ends. The bill directly affects workers participating in labor disputes by making them eligible for benefits under these specific conditions, rather than requiring them to meet standard job search requirements. This change is implemented through amendments to the Internal Revenue Code and Social Security Act.

Maddy summaryHR 5840, the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act of 2024, simplifies the process for transportation workers to obtain multiple TSA security credentials. It requires the TSA to allow individuals to apply for and renew programs like the TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) and HAZMAT Endorsement through a single enrollment at any TSA center, with a combined fee lower than separate applications. The bill mandates coordinated expiration dates for all credentials and ensures state-issued commercial driver's licenses reflect the correct HAZMAT endorsement validity. These changes aim to reduce duplication and costs for workers needing multiple security clearances. The TSA must implement these changes within two years and publish details online.

Maddy summaryThe Healthy at Home Act of 2023 establishes new standards for addressing indoor residential mold and other health hazards in federally assisted housing. It requires federal agencies to conduct research on mold health impacts, develop model standards for preventing and remediating mold, and create a mapping tool to identify mold-impacted areas. The bill mandates that properties receiving housing assistance maintain decent, safe, and sanitary conditions, with enforcement actions for failing properties, and provides $250 million in preservation grants for housing improvements. It also requires public education campaigns about mold hazards, empowers tenants with information about inspections, and denies tax deductions for properties with failed inspections.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Medicare counts hospital stays for coverage of skilled nursing care. It treats time spent in outpatient observation (not admitted as an inpatient) as part of the required 3-day inpatient hospital stay. This means beneficiaries who received outpatient observation services will have that time counted toward the 3-day requirement, potentially making them eligible for skilled nursing facility coverage they might otherwise have lost. The change applies to services beginning January 1, 2024, with limited retroactive appeal options for services completed before the law's enactment. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries needing skilled nursing care after hospital treatment.

Maddy summaryThe Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act expands Medicare's drug price negotiation program from 20 to 50 drugs, allowing the government to negotiate lower prices for these medications. It requires private health insurance plans and group health coverage to apply these negotiated prices to their members' cost-sharing for covered drugs, with plans able to opt out while publicly disclosing their decision. The bill also extends these negotiated prices to drugs covered by commercial insurance markets, not just Medicare. This would directly affect Medicare beneficiaries and people with private health insurance who take the negotiated drugs.

Maddy summaryThe Social Security 2100 Act would significantly enhance Social Security benefits for millions of Americans by increasing monthly payments for retirees, disabled workers, widows/widowers, and children. Key provisions include raising the minimum benefit for long-term low earners, improving cost-of-living adjustments using a more accurate index, eliminating the 5-month waiting period for disability benefits, and extending child benefits to age 26. The bill also changes how Social Security taxes are calculated by applying them to income above $400,000 and establishes a unified Social Security Trust Fund to manage program finances. Most provisions would apply to benefits payable from 2025 through 2034, affecting all current and future Social Security beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryThe PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2023 requires private health insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and other public health programs to cover pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention without cost-sharing, including the medication, related lab tests, and follow-up care. The bill also prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying coverage or charging higher premiums to people taking PrEP. It establishes public education campaigns to increase awareness of PrEP and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and creates funding for state and community programs to expand access to HIV prevention services, particularly for populations disproportionately affected by HIV including Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and transgender individuals. The legislation specifically addresses current disparities in PrEP access, as data shows only 11% of Black/African American and 21% of Hispanic/Latinx individuals eligible for PrEP received prescriptions in 2022 compared to 82% of White individuals. Coverage requirements for most plans will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2023, amends Social Security to better protect public servants who work in jobs not covered by Social Security (such as certain government positions). It creates a new formula for calculating retirement benefits that combines both covered and noncovered earnings, ensuring public servants receive the higher of two benefit calculations. The bill also provides an additional $150 monthly payment for certain public servants whose benefits were previously reduced by the windfall elimination provision. It improves Social Security account statements to clearly show noncovered earnings and requires a study of how state retirement plans handle these benefits. These changes will apply to benefits starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryThe Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2023 requires free menstrual products to be available at no cost in public schools, colleges, correctional facilities, and federal buildings. It makes menstrual products covered by Medicaid, prohibits taxes on these products, and provides funding through social services programs to help low-income individuals access menstrual products. The bill directly affects students (K-12 and college), incarcerated people, homeless individuals, employees (in businesses with 100+ workers), Medicaid beneficiaries, and people receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Key provisions include amending school funding to require free products, creating college grant programs for menstrual product distribution, and adding menstrual products to Medicaid coverage and social services programs.