Maddy summaryHR 6780 establishes a 4-year Medicare demonstration program testing whether hospitals providing medically tailored home-delivered meals to specific patients improves health outcomes and reduces hospital readmissions. The program targets Medicare beneficiaries with diet-sensitive chronic conditions (like diabetes or heart failure) who are at high risk of readmission and meet specific discharge criteria, such as limited daily living activities. Selected hospitals must screen patients, provide at least two tailored meals daily for 12 weeks, and offer medical nutrition therapy, all without patient cost-sharing. The program requires hospitals to submit data for evaluation, with the goal of assessing impacts on hospital admissions, care costs, and patient satisfaction before reporting to Congress in 2027 and 2030.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHR 6790 establishes National Institutes of Health centers to advance research, early detection, and public awareness of rare kidney diseases, with a focus on rural and underserved communities. It mandates a federal study on genetic testing barriers, treatment patterns, and public awareness for rare kidney diseases affecting disproportionately impacted populations, including barriers to insurance coverage and access to specialists. The bill also funds nephrology training programs to increase specialists serving these communities and requires experiments to delay or prevent the need for dialysis and transplants. Total funding of $7 million is authorized for fiscal years 2024-2028 to support these research, education, and early intervention efforts.
Maddy summaryThis bill adds audiology services to Medicare's covered benefits under Section 1861(s)(2)(KK), effective January 1, 2025. It allows qualified audiologists to provide hearing and balance assessments and diagnostic/treatment services without requiring a physician referral or supervision, directly affecting Medicare beneficiaries seeking these services and audiologists practicing under state law. Payment will be 80% of the lower of actual charge or the Medicare fee schedule. The bill does not expand the types of audiology services covered but changes how they are accessed and paid for under Medicare.
Maddy summaryHR 6407, the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2023, expands Medicare coverage to include medical nutrition therapy for more chronic conditions beyond current limits. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries with conditions like obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, eating disorders, and others not previously covered under Part B. The bill amends Medicare rules to allow coverage for prevention, management, or treatment of these conditions by a wider range of providers, including registered dietitians and clinical psychologists. This change would make medically necessary nutrition services available for conditions listed in the bill, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and HIV, as determined by the Secretary.
Maddy summaryThe Disaster Relief Medicaid Act creates a new Medicaid program for survivors of major disasters, providing continuous health coverage for up to two years after a disaster is declared. It establishes simplified eligibility requirements with no documentation needed, allowing individuals with income up to 133% of the poverty level (or their home state's standard) to qualify, including those who received FEMA assistance or lost employment due to the disaster. The law requires states to provide medical assistance equivalent to what would be provided in the survivor's home state, with 100% federal funding for all costs during the relief period. It also includes special provisions for pregnant individuals, children born during the relief period, and expanded mental health services.
Maddy summaryThe MORE Act (HR 5601) would federally decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Schedule I list of controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act. It requires federal courts to expunge non-violent cannabis convictions and associated arrests, with a focus on addressing racial disparities in cannabis enforcement. The bill creates an Opportunity Trust Fund that would allocate 50% of funds to criminal justice programs, 20% to small business assistance for minority cannabis entrepreneurs, and 20% to community reinvestment grants for individuals impacted by the War on Drugs. It also prohibits federal agencies from denying benefits or security clearances based on cannabis use or past cannabis convictions, and establishes a Cannabis Justice Office to administer these programs.
Maddy summaryHR 5183, the Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act, requires Medicare to cover "cancer care planning and coordination services" for beneficiaries diagnosed with cancer. This policy directly affects Medicare patients with cancer, particularly older adults (over half of cancer diagnoses occur in Medicare beneficiaries), by mandating written care plans developed by physicians or providers. The key mechanism adds specific coverage for these plans under Medicare, requiring them to document treatment options, coordinate care across providers, and address symptoms like pain or fatigue - furnished in culturally appropriate formats. The bill specifies payment rates matching existing transitional care management services, effective for care starting after the law's enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes how Medicare counts hospital stays for coverage of skilled nursing care. It treats time spent in outpatient observation (not admitted as an inpatient) as part of the required 3-day inpatient hospital stay. This means beneficiaries who received outpatient observation services will have that time counted toward the 3-day requirement, potentially making them eligible for skilled nursing facility coverage they might otherwise have lost. The change applies to services beginning January 1, 2024, with limited retroactive appeal options for services completed before the law's enactment. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries needing skilled nursing care after hospital treatment.
Maddy summaryThis bill prevents Medicare from imposing stricter supervision requirements for outpatient physical therapy and occupational therapy than those established by state law, requiring Medicare to follow existing state regulations instead. It takes effect January 1, 2024, directly affecting Medicare-covered therapy services in all states. Additionally, it mandates a Government Accountability Office study by December 2024 to analyze how Medicare’s 15% payment differential for therapy assistants impacts access to care in rural and underserved areas. The study will examine this payment policy across all Medicare Part B settings.
Maddy summaryThe 9-8-8 Implementation Act of 2023 establishes a national mental health crisis response system centered around the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline. It provides $441 million for call center technology, staffing, and operations, and requires Medicare, Medicaid, and private health plans to cover crisis response services including mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization facilities. The bill also mandates a national suicide prevention media campaign and creates protocols for 9-1-1 dispatchers to better respond to mental health crises. These provisions aim to improve access to mental health crisis care across the United States.