Maddy summaryS 2477 (Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act) expands Medicare Part B coverage to include specific pharmacist services previously only covered when provided by physicians. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries and pharmacists by allowing coverage for services like evaluating patients for COVID-19, flu, or respiratory illnesses, and addressing public health emergencies - provided pharmacists are licensed or operating under federal emergency authority. The bill establishes payment at 80% of the lesser of actual charge or 85% of physician payment rates (100% during federal emergencies) and prohibits balance billing for these services. It also clarifies that existing Medicare enrollment pathways for pharmacists remain available. This bill modifies Medicare Part B coverage under the Social Security Act without restricting current pharmacy reimbursement options.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the U.S. President to negotiate a tax agreement with Taiwan through the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). It would create a formal tax treaty to prevent double taxation and reduce tax evasion for U.S. businesses and taxpayers operating with Taiwan, directly benefiting companies engaged in cross-border trade and investment. The agreement must follow standard U.S. tax convention rules (like the 2016 Model Convention) and requires congressional approval via a specific concurrent resolution before taking effect. The bill does not finalize the treaty but establishes the process for negotiation and U.S. approval.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicare coverage for obesity treatment. It allows more healthcare providers - including nurse practitioners, dietitians, and clinical psychologists - to offer intensive behavioral therapy for obesity, with requirements for coordination with primary care physicians. It also adds Medicare Part D coverage for FDA-approved medications used to treat obesity or manage weight in adults with related health conditions (like diabetes or high blood pressure). These changes directly affect Medicare beneficiaries with obesity, aiming to improve access to proven treatment options. The bill requires annual reports to Congress on implementation progress.
Maddy summarySRES 303 is a ceremonial Senate resolution congratulating the University of Alaska Fairbanks rifle team for winning the 2023 NCAA championship, their 11th title overall. It recognizes the team's achievement of 12 individual NCAA All-American honors, three consecutive championships, and specific scoring records at the competition. The resolution formally acknowledges head coach Will Anti and the athletes, and directs the Senate to send a copy to university leadership and the coach. As a non-binding resolution, it has no policy impact or funding provisions.
Maddy summaryS 2372, the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, streamlines enrollment for out-of-state healthcare providers who treat Medicaid-eligible children under 21 with medically complex conditions. It requires states to adopt a process allowing these providers to join state Medicaid/CHIP programs without extra state-level screening, provided they already meet federal Medicare or home-state program requirements and pose low fraud risk. The bill establishes a 5-year enrollment period for eligible providers, directly affecting children needing specialized care across state lines and the providers serving them. Key provisions remove barriers to interstate care coordination while maintaining federal oversight standards.
Maddy summaryThe Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2023 updates and extends the 1996 law providing housing assistance to Native American tribes and communities, extending funding authorization through 2034. Key provisions include streamlining environmental review processes to give tribes more control over projects funded with multiple federal sources, expanding student housing assistance to include college housing, and creating new programs for Indian veterans and drug elimination in housing communities. The bill also increases procurement exemptions from $5,000 to $10,000 and requires reports to specific congressional committees. These changes directly affect Native American tribes, tribal housing entities, and low-income Native American residents who rely on these housing programs.
Maddy summaryThe ARCTIC Act improves food access in rural and frontier communities through expanded micro-grants for food security, SNAP benefit flexibility for delivery costs, and a pilot program for purchasing locally produced food. It establishes labeling requirements for "Wild USA" seafood and creates specific market names for genetically engineered and cultivated fish products. The bill provides forgivable loans for small food processing businesses, creates the Denali Housing Fund for rural Alaska villages, and funds research on seaweed for methane reduction in livestock. It also supports Tribal self-determination in agricultural programs and modifies the "Buy Indian Act" to include the Department of Agriculture. The bill directly affects food security programs, seafood industry participants, small food processors, rural communities, and Tribal nations.
This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, any micro-grant for food security received by an eligible entity under the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (i.e., an individual, Indian tribe, nonprofit organization engaged in increasing food security, or a federally-funded educational facility).
Maddy summaryThis bill requires drug manufacturers to notify the FDA (Secretary) about potential shortages of critical drugs - defined as life-saving, life-sustaining, or essential for treating debilitating conditions - up to six months in advance for planned disruptions, or within 10 business days for sudden issues like supply chain problems or increased demand. Notifications must include reasons for shortages, expected duration, alternative ingredient sources, and details about related medical devices. Manufacturers must also submit annual reports (in March and September) detailing their supply chains, including supplier names and drug production quantities for critical ingredients. The bill directly affects manufacturers of these "covered drugs" by mandating transparent reporting to prevent shortages.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a framework for qualifying news organizations to form groups to negotiate with large online platforms about fair payment for their content. It allows these groups to jointly deny platforms access to their content during negotiations and use binding arbitration to determine fair compensation based on the content's market value. The bill provides antitrust immunity for these negotiations, requires platforms to pay based on the value of news content rather than platform benefits, and includes transparency requirements for how funds support journalism. It defines specific eligibility criteria for news organizations and platforms, and sets a 6-year expiration for the law.