Rep. Kim Schrier

Maddy summaryThis bill extends funding for the National Landslide Preparedness Act through 2028, replacing the previous 2021-2024 authorization period. It directly affects existing federal landslide preparedness programs by continuing their current funding structure without new requirements. The key change is simply updating the program's authorization period in two specific sections of the law (sections 3(h) and 5(e)). The bill does not create new policies or alter how landslide preparedness activities are conducted.

Maddy summaryHR 3396, the Fire Department Repayment Act of 2023, requires the Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior, Homeland Security, and Defense to establish standard procedures for federal fire suppression cost share agreements within one year. It mandates reviewing existing agreements to align them with local cooperative fire protection agreements and conducting second-level reviews after wildfires, involving state and local fire organizations. The bill directly affects fire departments and agencies participating in these cost-sharing arrangements under the Reciprocal Fire Protection Act. Key changes include standardized procedures for agreement management and post-wildfire reviews to ensure cost-sharing compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies cost-sharing subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to increase coverage for certain income groups starting in 2026. It shifts the benchmark from "silver" to "gold" level plans for determining subsidies, raising insurer coverage from 70-85% to 85% for households earning 200-400% of the poverty line (with adjusted income thresholds). Specifically, for 2026 and later, people earning 150-300% of poverty will receive higher subsidies than current 2025 rules (which cover 150-200% at 87% coverage). The changes directly affect ACA marketplace enrollees with household incomes in these ranges, reducing their out-of-pocket costs through expanded insurer coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands financial support for living organ donors by amending the Public Health Service Act. It prohibits reimbursement programs from considering the recipient's income when covering donors' expenses and allows donors with household income up to 700% of the poverty line to qualify for reimbursement. Reimbursement is capped at $10,000 for fiscal year 2026 (adjusted annually for inflation), covering costs like travel or lost wages. The bill also requires annual reports tracking program participation, expenses, and impacts on Medicare savings, with funding authorized through 2035.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Affordable Care Act to increase cost-sharing reductions for lower-income individuals buying health insurance through marketplaces. For plan years beginning before January 1, 2026, it maintains current silver-level coverage cost-sharing (e.g., 73% government coverage for incomes 200-250% of poverty). Starting in 2026, it shifts to gold-level coverage, raising government cost-sharing to 85% for incomes 300-400% of poverty (up from 70% under current rules). It also updates premium tax credits to use gold-level benchmark plans instead of silver-level plans for 2026 and later, directly benefiting moderate-income households purchasing marketplace plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends Medicare payment adjustments for physicians and other practitioners through 2025 instead of ending in 2024. It specifically adds a 4.73% payment increase for services provided between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026. The legislation modifies existing Medicare payment rules to stabilize practice revenues during transition periods. It directly affects doctors and healthcare providers who bill Medicare for patient services. The key change is the extended timeframe and the defined 4.73% rate for the 2025-2026 period.

Maddy summaryHR 9805, the Access to Claims Data Act, allows qualified clinical data registries and clinician-led registries to access Medicare claims data (and potentially Medicaid/CHIP data if approved) for research and quality improvement. The bill requires the HHS Secretary to establish a process by January 2025 for these registries to request de-identified claims data to link with clinical outcomes, assess provider quality, and publish research findings. Access is provided at cost-recovery fees, deposited into a federal account, and the registries are exempt from needing "qualified entity" status under current law. This law directly affects healthcare data organizations aiming to improve patient care through research using existing claims information.

Maddy summaryHR 9778, the PAVE Act, requires Medicare to include penicillin allergy verification during routine preventive exams and annual wellness visits for seniors aged 65 and older. The bill mandates identifying patients with self-reported penicillin allergies, assessing whether their history indicates a true allergy, explaining the health risks of a false label, and referring to specialists when needed. This applies to Medicare-covered visits starting January 1, 2025, directly affecting seniors with penicillin allergy labels in their medical records. The goal is to correct false allergies - supported by evidence showing over 90% of such labels are inaccurate - improving treatment options and reducing unnecessary healthcare costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for group health plans and health insurance issuers that violate balance billing requirements, raising fines from $100 to $10,000 per violation for specific provisions. It also imposes new penalties for late payment or non-payment after an Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) determination, requiring plans to pay three times the difference between the initial payment and the out-of-network rate, plus interest. The bill mandates transparency reporting where the Secretary must annually report on audits conducted, enforcement actions taken, and civil penalties issued. These provisions apply to both standard health coverage and air ambulance services, aiming to strengthen enforcement of balance billing rules.

Maddy summaryThe ASSET Act eliminates asset limits for low-income households applying for federal assistance programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), SNAP (food assistance), and LIHEAP (energy help). This means families can save money in bank accounts or build financial resources without risking loss of benefits. The bill also updates Supplemental Security Income (SSI) resource limits to $20,000 for individuals and $10,000 for couples in 2024, with future annual inflation adjustments. The changes take effect 30 days after the bill's enactment, with states given up to two years to implement if new legislation is needed.