Rep. Jake LaTurner

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Medicare rules to expand eligibility for rural emergency hospitals. It changes the timeframe during which hospitals can qualify for this specific Medicare reimbursement status, allowing facilities to meet eligibility requirements at any point from January 1, 2015, onward. The change directly affects rural hospitals seeking to become designated Medicare rural emergency hospitals to receive appropriate federal funding. This is a technical adjustment to Medicare eligibility rules, not a new funding program.

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 summaryThis bill, the EMPSA Act (Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act), changes Social Security Income (SSI) rules for married adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. It directly affects married individuals aged 18+ who have these disabilities and meet income and resource limits. The key change removes the "marriage penalty" by ensuring their spouse’s income and resources no longer count against their SSI eligibility or benefit amount, allowing them to receive the full individual benefit rate. This update modifies specific sections of the Social Security Act to eliminate the previous disadvantage faced by married couples under these disability conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HR 6860, protects patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) who require dialysis by preventing health insurance plans from discriminating against them. It amends Medicare rules to prohibit plans from treating dialysis coverage differently than other medical services based on a patient’s ESRD diagnosis, need for dialysis, or any other factor. The bill clarifies that plans can still choose which dialysis providers to include in their networks but cannot deny or limit coverage for dialysis services solely because of the patient’s condition. It ensures Medicare remains the secondary payer for these services as intended, without forcing plans to cover specific providers.

Maddy summaryThe Preserving Seniors’ Access to Physicians Act of 2023 increases the Medicare payment adjustment rate for physicians from 1.25% to 4.62%, directly affecting doctors who treat Medicare patients (primarily seniors). It also reduces the funding for the Medicaid improvement fund from $5,796,117,810 to $3,973,117,810. These changes impact Medicare providers and Medicaid programs, with the Medicare adjustment aimed at supporting physicians adjusting to payment changes. The bill does not specify how the Medicaid funding reduction relates to its stated goal of preserving seniors' access to physicians.

Maddy summaryHR 6344, the Simon Crosier Act, requires Medicare and Medicaid providers to establish written policies for do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders involving unemancipated minors (under 18 without legal independence). It mandates that providers must inform at least one parent or legal guardian in person or by phone (with 72 hours of effort) before considering a DNR, allow parents/guardians to refuse consent, and prohibit overriding parental objections to life-sustaining treatment. The bill also requires providers to continue life-sustaining care for 15 days if a parent requests a transfer and explicitly prohibits using disability as the sole basis for DNR decisions. These requirements apply to all Medicare/Medicaid-covered facilities and directly affect minors, their parents, and healthcare providers.

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 summaryThis bill, HR 5796, prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from implementing a proposed rule requiring minimum staffing levels in nursing homes. It creates an advisory panel of 15 members - including rural nursing home staff and experts - to study workforce shortages and report on access barriers for seniors, especially in rural areas. The panel must submit an initial report within 60 days, analyzing staffing challenges and recommending solutions to strengthen the nursing home workforce. These provisions directly aim to prevent nursing home closures (like the 129 that occurred in 2022) that threaten rural seniors’ access to care.

Maddy summaryHR 3561, the PATIENT Act of 2023, requires hospitals, health insurance plans, and pharmacy benefit managers to publicly disclose detailed pricing information for healthcare services and drugs. Hospitals must publish standard charges for 300+ shoppable services, including gross charges, payer-specific negotiated rates, and discounted cash prices, with updates required annually. Health plans must provide real-time information on in-network rates, cost sharing, deductibles, and prior authorization requirements for covered services. The bill establishes enforcement mechanisms, including civil monetary penalties for non-compliance, with fines ranging from $300 per day for small hospitals to $5 million for large hospitals that fail to comply with the transparency requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes geographic restrictions on Medicare telehealth services, allowing rural beneficiaries to receive care at home or remotely starting January 1, 2025. It specifically expands access for critical access hospitals and rural health clinics by standardizing payments for telehealth services and permitting audio-only visits for certain providers like doctors and clinics with established patient relationships. The bill also extends Medicare flexibilities for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics beyond 2024. These changes aim to improve healthcare access in underserved rural communities by removing prior barriers to telehealth.