Maddy summaryS 2903, the Safe Step Act, requires health insurance plans and employers offering health coverage to establish a clear, timely process for patients or doctors to request exceptions when step therapy protocols (where insurers require trying cheaper drugs first) would harm a patient. It mandates approval for exceptions if prior drugs failed, delay would cause severe harm, a drug is unsafe, or a patient is stable on their current medication. Plans must respond to requests within 72 hours (or 24 hours in emergencies) and cover the requested drug without extra cost-sharing. The bill also requires annual reports to the government on exception requests, approvals, denials, and trends by medical condition or specialty. This directly affects patients on health plans with step therapy, their doctors, and the insurers managing those plans.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 2287, the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, establishes federal funding to expand training for health professionals in palliative and hospice care. The bill creates multiple programs including grants for education programs, fellowships for faculty to gain specialized training, and career incentive awards for students pursuing palliative care specialties. It prioritizes training in rural and underserved areas, for pediatric populations, and for racial and ethnic minorities. The bill authorizes $15 million annually through 2030 to build a more skilled palliative care workforce for patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1677, Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act) requires health insurance plans to cover medically necessary treatments for congenital anomalies or birth defects affecting the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, or jaw. It mandates coverage for reconstructive services, dental/orthodontic care, and related treatments during the course of medical treatment, while excluding purely cosmetic procedures not medically necessary. Plans may apply cost-sharing requirements similar to those for other medical services but must provide notice about these coverage requirements to participants by January 1, 2026. The bill also directs a study on provider network adequacy and cost impacts related to these coverage requirements, to be completed by December 2027.
Resident Education Deferred Interest Act or the REDI Act This bill allows borrowers in medical or dental internships or residency programs to defer student loan payments until the completion of their programs.
Maddy summaryThe HELP Copays Act requires that financial assistance from non-profit organizations or prescription drug manufacturers counts toward patients' annual out-of-pocket cost-sharing limits (like deductibles and copays) for certain prescription drugs. It directly affects individuals enrolled in group health plans or individual insurance who receive such assistance, ensuring payments from these sources reduce their total out-of-pocket spending. The bill amends key healthcare laws to include these payments in calculating cost-sharing thresholds, specifically for specialty drugs and drugs subject to utilization management (like prior authorization). It takes effect for plan years beginning in 2026 and does not change how utilization management tools are applied.
Maddy summaryS. Res. 650 is a Senate resolution that formally recognizes the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States. The resolution highlights their achievements in military service, business ownership, healthcare, science, arts, and civil rights advocacy through specific examples of individual women. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of their historical and ongoing contributions to American society.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the U.S. Secretary of State to work with the Secretary of Defense and submit a report to Congress within 180 days on emerging threats facing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The report will examine military, cyber, and political dangers from countries like Russia, Belarus, China, and Iran, while also assessing current U.S. and NATO security presence in the region. It includes recommendations for improving defense cooperation, cybersecurity, and democratic resilience in the Baltic states, and highlights opportunities to strengthen bilateral and multilateral partnerships. The legislation reflects Congress's view that supporting these NATO allies aligns with U.S. national security interests.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs the President to withdraw U.S. military forces from hostilities against Iran that lack congressional authorization. It specifically responds to military actions taken by the President in February 2026, which the bill states occurred without a formal declaration of war or specific statutory authorization. The resolution requires the removal of troops unless Congress explicitly authorizes military action through a declaration of war or a specific law. It explicitly allows for defensive actions against Iranian attacks on U.S. personnel or allies, and intelligence-sharing with partners like Israel. The bill aims to enforce constitutional war powers by requiring congressional approval for military engagement in Iran.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends a provision in the U.S. Code regarding national cemetery interments, specifically changing the legal definition used to determine who is barred from burial. It updates references from "tier III sex offender" under outdated law (34 U.S.C. § 20901) to the current definition (34 U.S.C. § 20911) for the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. This change directly affects individuals classified as tier III sex offenders under current law, altering the criteria applied when reviewing burial eligibility in national cemeteries. The bill makes a technical correction to align the cemetery policy with the existing sex offender registration statute, with no broader changes to cemetery access or policy.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a collaborative research initiative to study health conditions affecting descendants of veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service. Within 180 days, it requires an interagency task force (including the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) to research diagnosis and treatment options for these health conditions. The task force must maintain a public website sharing research findings and evidence reviews on links between specific toxic exposures and health outcomes. It also mandates annual reports on research progress and strategic plan implementation for five years. The bill directly affects descendants of veterans with toxic exposure histories, focusing on evidence-based research rather than immediate healthcare benefits.