Rep. John H. Rutherford

Maddy summaryThis bill adds audiology services to Medicare's covered benefits under Section 1861(s)(2)(KK), effective January 1, 2025. It allows qualified audiologists to provide hearing and balance assessments and diagnostic/treatment services without requiring a physician referral or supervision, directly affecting Medicare beneficiaries seeking these services and audiologists practicing under state law. Payment will be 80% of the lower of actual charge or the Medicare fee schedule. The bill does not expand the types of audiology services covered but changes how they are accessed and paid for under Medicare.

Maddy summaryThe Maximum Pressure Act (HR 6114) is a legislative proposal that would maintain and expand U.S. sanctions against Iran. The bill would codify existing sanctions, require Iran to meet 12 specific conditions before sanctions could be lifted (including ending support for terrorism, releasing hostages, and ending nuclear enrichment), and expand sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and missile programs. It also establishes new reporting requirements for the U.S. government to monitor Iran's activities and the impact of sanctions. The legislation would require congressional review before any sanctions could be lifted or modified, preventing the executive branch from unilaterally easing restrictions.

Maddy summaryHR 5912 (PUNISH Act of 2023) maintains existing U.S. sanctions against Iran by preventing the President from lifting them without new certification. It requires the State Department to submit every 180 days a report confirming Iran has not engaged in targeted violence (such as assassinations of U.S. citizens, Iranian residents in the U.S., or politically motivated abuse) over the past five years. This certification must be provided before sanctions can be waived, suspended, or reduced under current laws like the Iran Sanctions Act. The bill directly affects the President’s authority to ease sanctions, Iranian entities subject to existing sanctions, and U.S. agencies responsible for reporting. It does not create new sanctions but extends the duration of current measures until a specific certification date.

Maddy summaryHR 5614 extends duty-free treatment for Haitian apparel imports under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act until September 30, 2035. It modifies the quantitative limit for eligible apparel imports to cap at 1.25% of the U.S. market for the most recent 12-month period, replacing the previous fixed annual period structure. This bill directly affects Haitian apparel exporters and U.S. importers of Haitian-made clothing by maintaining tariff preferences. The extension also requires the President to adjust the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to restore lost benefits for eligible items affected by prior tariff schedule changes.

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 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 summaryThe PAATCH Act amends Medicare rules to preserve "sole community hospital" designations for specific hospitals. It extends the timeframe for hospitals that met certain requirements before March 13, 2020, to maintain their designation for a 5-year period starting when the bill becomes law. This applies directly to community hospitals currently recognized under this Medicare classification. The bill changes the existing rule by adding a new provision (subclause IV) to the Social Security Act, ensuring these hospitals retain their status without needing to reapply during the extended period. It does not create new hospital designations or alter Medicare payment rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents Medicare from imposing stricter supervision requirements for outpatient physical therapy and occupational therapy than those established by state law, requiring Medicare to follow existing state regulations instead. It takes effect January 1, 2024, directly affecting Medicare-covered therapy services in all states. Additionally, it mandates a Government Accountability Office study by December 2024 to analyze how Medicare’s 15% payment differential for therapy assistants impacts access to care in rural and underserved areas. The study will examine this payment policy across all Medicare Part B settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates an interagency review by the Department of Health and Human Services (with Defense and Veterans Affairs) to address lung cancer disparities affecting women. It requires a report evaluating research gaps, improving access to lung cancer screening (especially for underserved groups), and developing public awareness campaigns about early detection. The review will focus on factors like environmental exposures, genomic differences, and treatment responses specific to women, particularly those who never smoked. The report must be submitted to Congress within one year of enactment. This directly affects women at risk of lung cancer, including those with non-smoking-related cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare coverage to include home infusion treatment for people with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Disorder, a genetic condition causing lung and liver damage. It specifically covers "augmentation therapy" (a standard treatment using Alpha-1 Proteinase Inhibitor) when administered in a patient's home by qualified providers. Medicare will pay 80% of the cost for intravenous kits and up to 2 hours of nursing care during these home infusions, starting January 1, 2025. The change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries with this condition who require home-based treatment and their qualified home infusion providers.