Rep. Josh Gottheimer

Maddy summaryHR 5408, the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, increases the resource limits for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program eligibility. It raises the individual resource limit from $2,250 to $20,000 (and the couple limit from $1,500 to $10,000) for 2023, with future annual increases tied to inflation using the Consumer Price Index. This change directly affects low-income SSI recipients who currently lose benefits if their savings exceed the current thresholds. The key mechanism is raising these savings limits to reduce the "penalty" for saving modest amounts, while maintaining program integrity through automatic inflation adjustments.

Maddy summaryThe Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2023 repeals a 2018 payment adjustment for Medicare home health agencies, restoring prior payment rates for 2024 and subsequent years. It requires the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to analyze how home health agencies' financial performance affects access to care, including reviewing spending and utilization data across Medicare, Medicaid, and other payers. Starting in 2025, the bill mandates home health agencies to report detailed data on visit volumes and payments by payer source (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurers) through updated cost reports. This data will help MedPAC assess payment policy impacts on access to home health services for Medicare beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryHR 4794, the Dietary Supplements Access Act, allows health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to cover dietary supplements as qualified medical expenses. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat payments for dietary supplements - defined under federal law (21 U.S.C. 321(ff)) - as medical care, directly affecting individuals using these accounts to pay for supplements like vitamins or minerals. Key provisions require HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs to reimburse supplement costs under the same rules as other medical expenses. The change applies to taxable years beginning after the bill’s enactment.

Maddy summaryHR 4752 (the CHANGE Act of 2023) requires Medicare to include standardized cognitive impairment screening during annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams for beneficiaries starting in 2024. It mandates doctors use National Institute on Aging-approved tools to detect memory issues and document results in medical records. This directly affects Medicare patients aged 65+ and their healthcare providers, aiming to enable earlier Alzheimer’s diagnosis and care planning. The bill focuses on making routine screenings a standard part of Medicare-covered checkups, not on funding or new programs. It does not alter existing Medicare benefits but adds a specific screening requirement to two existing service categories.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens the U.S. law preventing imports made with forced labor from Xinjiang by expanding definitions of forced labor programs to include specific Chinese government initiatives like "surplus labor transfer," "Xinjiang Aid," and "re-education programs." It requires the U.S. government to update its strategy to align with U.S. Customs determinations about goods from Xinjiang and mandates detailed public lists of entities recruiting, transporting, or receiving forced labor outside Xinjiang. The law directly affects U.S. importers who must verify supply chains and Chinese entities operating labor programs in Xinjiang. Key provisions include broadening the scope of "forced labor" to cover state-imposed programs targeting Uyghurs and other minorities, and requiring transparency about entities linked to these programs.

Maddy summaryHR 4475, the Period PROUD Act of 2023, allocates $1.9 billion over four years (2025-2028) through the Social Services Block Grant Program to provide free menstrual products to low-income menstruating individuals. It requires states to distribute funds to qualified nonprofits for direct product distribution, community outreach, and improving access, while limiting administrative costs to 9% of funds. The bill mandates an evaluation by 2030 to assess health impacts and requires annual reports on program effectiveness. It also establishes best practices for schools on discussing menstruation and exempts funding from automatic budget cuts.

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.

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 prohibits Medicare from paying for certain custom-fitted or custom-fabricated orthotic and prosthetic devices delivered via "drop shipment" (direct shipping without in-person training from a qualified provider). It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries who need these devices, ensuring they receive necessary in-person fitting and training. The bill also expands which healthcare professionals (including physical therapists, occupational therapists, orthotists, and prosthetists) can prescribe these devices and updates definitions to clarify terms like "orthoses" and "prostheses." Final regulations implementing these changes must be issued within one year of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (HR 4363) establishes new Medicare and Medicaid coverage for cancer care planning and coordination services, requiring personalized survivorship care plans for cancer survivors from diagnosis through the end of life. The bill creates a demonstration program to test different models of survivorship care, including navigation services to help survivors transition from cancer treatment to ongoing care, and mandates Medicaid coverage for cancer fertility services. It also establishes a comprehensive cancer survivorship program with resource centers for survivors and health care providers, and includes provisions to help cancer survivors overcome employment barriers and improve their quality of life through physical activity and mental health support. The legislation specifically addresses disparities in care for racial/ethnic minorities, lower socioeconomic groups, and rural populations who face unique challenges as cancer survivors.