Rep. Steve Cohen

Maddy summaryHR 3926, the Protecting Our Widows and Widowers in Retirement Act (POWR Act), increases Social Security benefits for surviving spouses in households where both spouses earned retirement benefits. It changes the calculation so widows and widowers who worked and earned their own benefits will receive 75% of the sum of their own retirement benefit plus the deceased spouse’s primary benefit amount, rather than a fixed percentage. The bill also ensures Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility and benefit amounts remain unaffected by these changes. The provisions apply to benefits payable after December 2023.

Maddy summaryHR 3875, the Expanded Telehealth Access Act, expands Medicare coverage for telehealth services by adding new healthcare professionals to the list of providers eligible for payment. It specifically includes licensed audiologists, occupational therapists (and their assistants under supervision), physical therapists (and their assistants under supervision), and speech-language pathologists. The bill ensures these providers are paid the same rate for telehealth services as they would be for in-person care under Medicare. This change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking remote therapy services and the new provider types who can now offer these services via telehealth.

Maddy summaryHR 3851, the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act of 2023, requires most health insurance plans (including group and individual coverage) to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast exams without any out-of-pocket costs like copays or deductibles. This applies to medically necessary exams used to evaluate abnormalities detected during screening (diagnostic) or to screen high-risk individuals without abnormalities (supplemental), following National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Plans may still require prior authorization for these exams, and state laws providing stronger protections remain in effect. The law takes effect for plan years beginning January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare to cover genetic counseling services provided by licensed genetic counselors at 85% of the physician payment rate. It defines "genetic counselor" as a state-licensed professional (or meeting federal criteria in non-licensing states) and mandates a new billing modifier for these services starting January 1, 2024. Medicare beneficiaries seeking genetic counseling would gain expanded access to these services under this coverage. The policy change applies to services furnished on or after the effective date, with implementation via interim rule.

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 summaryThis bill establishes a minimum payment floor for Medicare reimbursements to rural hospitals not located in frontier states. It sets a 0.85 minimum for the area wage index used in hospital inpatient payments (starting October 2023) and a similar floor for outpatient department payments (starting January 2024). This prevents Medicare payments from dropping below 85% of the standard wage index for eligible rural hospitals. The bill includes budget neutrality requirements to ensure overall Medicare payments don't increase, while exempting hospitals already receiving payments above the floor.

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 summaryHR 3432, the Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2023, expands Medicare coverage for mental and behavioral health services delivered via telehealth. It removes geographic restrictions that previously limited telehealth coverage to rural areas and explicitly adds "behavioral health services" to the list of covered telehealth services under Medicare Part B. The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report within one year on utilization of these services, including recommendations on fraud prevention and funding needs for oversight. This change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking remote mental/behavioral health care and the providers who deliver it.

Maddy summaryHR 3443, the Foster Youth Mentoring Act of 2023, creates a federal grant program to fund structured mentoring programs for youth in foster care and those who have aged out of foster care (under age 26). The bill authorizes $50 million annually for grants to eligible organizations (like nonprofits, state agencies, or tribes) to establish or expand mentoring that provides consistent, year-long relationships focused on academic support, emotional development, and transition to adulthood. Key requirements include mandatory mentor training on trauma, cultural competence, and child welfare coordination, along with strict background checks and recruitment strategies to reflect the diversity of youth served. The program directly affects approximately 443,000 youth in foster care (per 2017 data) and aims to improve their educational outcomes, reduce school absences, and build supportive connections through evidence-based mentoring.

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.