Rep. Jill N. Tokuda

Maddy summaryThe HEAR Act of 2024 would require Medicare to cover hearing rehabilitation services and hearing aids for eligible beneficiaries. It defines hearing rehabilitation to include assessments, counseling, and fitting of hearing aids, while defining hearing aids as FDA-approved devices (excluding over-the-counter options). Coverage applies to Medicare beneficiaries with hearing loss who have not received hearing aids in the past three years and whose hearing has deteriorated, as confirmed by a comprehensive assessment. The bill amends Medicare to include these services as standard benefits, removing prior exclusions that previously limited coverage. This policy change directly affects older adults and people with disabilities who rely on Medicare for hearing care.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated for seniors. It requires using either the standard CPI-W (for wage earners) or the new CPI-E (tracking inflation specific to seniors aged 62+) - whichever results in a higher COLA. The Bureau of Labor Statistics must now publish the CPI-E monthly to reflect seniors' spending habits. This directly affects Social Security beneficiaries, potentially increasing their annual benefit adjustments starting September 2024. The bill does not create new benefits but alters the inflation measure used to determine COLAs.

Maddy summaryThe SOAR Act of 2024 removes supplemental oxygen and related equipment, supplies, and services from Medicare's competitive bidding program, ensuring direct Medicare payment for these items starting in 2025. It establishes new payment rates for oxygen services, including specific rates for rural areas and liquid oxygen with annual inflation adjustments, and requires oxygen suppliers to provide specific services like initial evaluations, safety education, and 24-hour coverage. The bill also adds respiratory therapist services to Medicare coverage with a new payment add-on, requires electronic templates for documenting medical necessity for oxygen services, and establishes new beneficiary rights including the right to choose suppliers and receive timely equipment repairs. This legislation directly affects Medicare beneficiaries requiring oxygen therapy, oxygen suppliers, and respiratory therapists by changing how these services are paid for and delivered.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare to cover falls risk assessments and fall prevention services during annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams for seniors aged 65+ who have fallen in the previous year. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries with recent falls and healthcare providers delivering these services under Medicare. The key mechanism expands existing Medicare benefits to include these specific fall prevention services, effective January 1, 2025. Additionally, it mandates annual reports starting in 2026 tracking falls data for seniors over 65 who received fall-related treatment.

Maddy summaryThe Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act of 2024 sets new limits on mandatory overtime for nurses in healthcare facilities, prohibiting work beyond 48 hours in a week, 12 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period, or during the 10 hours following a 12-hour shift. It requires healthcare providers to document mandatory overtime during emergencies, post nurse schedules and rights notices, and prohibits retaliation against nurses who refuse mandatory overtime or report violations. The bill authorizes civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation for non-compliance and mandates studies to establish safe working hour standards and assess federal medical facility policies. This directly affects hospitals, clinics, and other covered healthcare providers, as well as registered and licensed practical nurses working in these settings.

Maddy summaryHR 7442 directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study whether Medicare could cover medical services provided in the Philippines for beneficiaries already enrolled in Medicare Part B or Part C. The study must analyze potential cost savings compared to U.S. care (2025-2034) and identify required legislative/administrative changes to expand coverage. This bill only authorizes a study and does not change current Medicare benefits or eligibility.

Maddy summaryThe Community Housing Act of 2024 significantly increases federal investment in affordable housing through major funding boosts, including $44.5 billion for the Housing Trust Fund and $1.5 billion for the Capital Magnet Fund over the next decade. It repeals the Faircloth amendment, which had limited public housing construction since 1992, allowing public housing authorities to build new units without the previous cap. The bill establishes a permanent emergency rental assistance program providing $3 billion annually through 2029 to help low-income households with rent payments and creates the Unlocking Possibilities program to fund local efforts to streamline housing regulations and reduce zoning barriers. These provisions directly affect low- and moderate-income households, community land trusts, and rural communities facing housing insecurity and affordability challenges.

Maddy summaryHR 7142 (Alternatives to PAIN Act) requires Medicare Part D plans to cover non-opioid pain management drugs with no deductible and at the lowest copay level starting in 2025. It defines "qualifying non-opioid drugs" as FDA-approved medications that don’t act on opioid receptors (like certain NSAIDs or nerve pain treatments), excluding opioids and schedule I-III drugs. The bill prohibits Medicare plans from forcing patients to try opioids first (step therapy) or requiring prior approval for these non-opioid options. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries needing pain management, especially those seeking alternatives to opioids for post-surgical or acute pain. The policy change aims to improve access to non-addictive pain treatments while preserving doctors' authority to prescribe medically appropriate care.

Maddy summaryThe EASE Act of 2024 requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to test a new model improving access to specialty health care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in rural or underserved areas. It mandates CMS to partner with selected provider networks - comprising at least 50 community health clinics, nonprofits with proven community health work, and commitment to research - to deliver specialty care via telehealth and remote technology, coordinated with patients’ primary care providers. This model directly affects Medicare Part A/B beneficiaries and Medicaid enrollees living in designated underserved regions. The bill establishes specific criteria for network selection and defines "eligible individuals" based on coverage type and geographic location.

Maddy summaryThe Nutrition CARE Act of 2024 expands Medicare Part B coverage to include medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries diagnosed with eating disorders. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries with eating disorders - particularly an estimated 420,500-560,700 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color seniors - by requiring coverage for 13 hours of initial care (including assessment) and 4 hours annually for ongoing management. The bill amends Medicare law to specify that these services must be provided by registered dietitians or nutrition professionals following referrals from physicians or psychologists. Coverage applies to all eating disorders as defined by the DSM-5, addressing a gap where Medicare previously excluded this critical treatment component. This policy change aims to improve access to evidence-based care for a condition linked to high mortality and significant healthcare costs.