Maddy summaryThe ARC Act of 2023 establishes a national program to address peripheral artery disease (PAD), which disproportionately affects minority populations and leads to avoidable amputations. The bill requires Medicare and Medicaid to cover PAD screening tests (such as ankle-brachial index testing) for at-risk beneficiaries without cost-sharing, including people 65+ or those with diabetes, smoking history, or other risk factors. It authorizes $6 million annually for a CDC-led education program to inform healthcare providers and the public about PAD prevention and treatment. The bill also creates quality measures to encourage alternative treatments to amputation and establishes a pilot program to test amputation prevention services at healthcare facilities. These provisions aim to reduce amputation rates and improve outcomes for millions of Americans with PAD.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe LIFT the BAR Act removes barriers preventing lawfully present noncitizens from accessing federal benefits like food assistance, Medicaid, and school meals. It repeals specific 1996 welfare law provisions that excluded noncitizens and updates terminology to replace "alien" with "noncitizen" throughout federal law. The bill expands eligibility to include noncitizens in categories such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, individuals with special immigrant juvenile status, and those with pending U-visa applications. This change ensures more noncitizens lawfully present in the U.S. can access essential services without being denied based on immigration status.
Maddy summaryHR 4034 would add cranial prostheses (such as medical wigs) to Medicare's list of covered durable medical equipment. It requires a dermatologist, oncologist, or attending physician to certify in writing that the prosthesis is medically necessary as part of rehabilitative treatment. This change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries experiencing hair loss due to medical conditions like cancer treatment who need these prostheses for health reasons. The bill does not cover cosmetic wigs but specifically targets medically necessary cranial prostheses under existing Medicare coverage rules.
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.
Maddy summaryHR 3589, the Affordability is Access Act of 2023, requires health insurance plans to cover FDA-approved over-the-counter birth control without cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles). It directly affects millions of people who use contraception, particularly low-income individuals and those in areas with limited access to reproductive health services ("contraceptive deserts"). The bill clarifies that existing insurance coverage rules under the Affordable Care Act apply to over-the-counter contraceptives, and directs the FDA to expedite reviews for over-the-counter status. Retailers must not block access to these products but may refuse sales if payment isn’t provided.
Maddy summaryThe FAMILY Act (HR 3481) would establish a national paid family and medical leave insurance program administered by the Social Security Administration. Eligible workers would receive wage replacement benefits (up to 85% of average earnings, with a maximum of $4,000 monthly) for up to 60 caregiving days per 12-month benefit period for qualifying reasons like caring for a sick family member, personal serious health conditions, or responding to domestic violence. The program would be funded through 0.2% payroll taxes from employees and employers (with self-employed individuals paying 0.4%), with benefits coordinated with existing state programs. The law includes protections against employer retaliation for taking leave and requires employers to maintain health coverage during leave periods.
Maddy summaryThe Medicare for All Act would establish a single-payer national health insurance program providing comprehensive coverage to all U.S. residents without cost-sharing. It would replace current private insurance and government programs like Medicare and Medicaid with a unified system covering all medically necessary services including hospital care, prescription drugs, mental health services, reproductive care, long-term care, and preventive services. The bill prohibits private insurers from offering duplicate coverage and requires providers to participate without charging patients for covered services. Implementation would occur over a two-year transition period, with a "Medicare Transition Buy-In" option allowing people to enroll before full implementation.
Maddy summaryThis bill would allow diapers to be counted as qualified medical expenses under federal tax law, enabling low-income families with infants and toddlers to use pre-tax funds from health savings accounts, dependent care benefits, and flexible spending arrangements to cover diaper costs. It also prohibits states and localities from imposing sales tax on diaper purchases. These changes directly benefit families who spend up to 14% of their income on diapers - over 5 million children in low-income households face this burden. The policy aims to reduce financial strain by expanding access to tax-advantaged spending for a basic need.
Maddy summaryThe Equal Health Care for All Act requires health care providers to collect and report health outcome data disaggregated by race, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, and age. It mandates hospitals participating in Medicare's value-based purchasing program to adopt measures promoting equitable care by 2025, with special consideration for social determinants of health. The bill establishes new enforcement mechanisms for providers engaging in patterns of inequitable care and creates a Federal Health Equity Commission to monitor implementation and recommend improvements. It also provides grants to hospitals to develop programs addressing health care disparities, including bias training, language services, and workforce diversity initiatives.
Maddy summaryThe Green New Deal for Health Act establishes a federal Office of Climate Change and Health Equity within the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate climate and health efforts across government agencies. It requires health care facilities to become more climate-resilient through infrastructure upgrades, mandates climate risk disclosure for medical products, and creates new training programs for health professionals on climate-related health risks. The bill expands Medicare coverage for home resiliency services like heat pumps and solar batteries for individuals medically vulnerable during climate disasters, and provides funding for community mental health programs focused on climate resilience. It prioritizes support for environmental justice communities and individuals disproportionately affected by climate change, including those with certain health conditions, ages, or social vulnerabilities.