Rep. Jack Bergman

Maddy summaryThe RESCUE Act of 2026 updates how the federal government reimburses ground and air ambulance services by changing the payment schedule and data collection rules. Starting in 2028, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will adjust payment rates every three years based on new data regarding costs, labor, and uncompensated care, while years in between will see payments increase only by the standard inflation rate. The bill also requires air ambulance providers to submit cost information to the government at least once every three years, aligning this process with existing rules for ground ambulance services. Additionally, the law mandates a review by 2029 to gather expert recommendations on whether further changes are needed to ensure ambulance providers are paid appropriately. These changes directly affect ambulance companies and the federal programs that fund emergency medical transport.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of Defense to report on how quickly military members receive their electronic health records when leaving active duty. The report must cover a one-year period and include data on average wait times, the longest delays experienced, and reasons for any hold-ups. Following this report, the Defense Secretary must create new standards to ensure these records are delivered within a reasonable timeframe, a period to be determined based on the findings and feedback from service members and veterans. The legislation directly affects transitioning servicemembers by aiming to improve the timeliness of their medical record transfers.

This bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 324 Washington Avenue, Suite 1 in Grand Haven, Michigan, as the "Ell Thomas Simantz Post Office Building".

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) administering prescription drug benefits for federal employee health plans to reimburse pharmacies at specific rates, including the national average drug cost plus a small percentage or $50, whichever is lower. It prohibits PBMs from favoring their own pharmacies, restricting patient choice, or reducing pharmacy payments after claims are processed. The bill establishes $10,000 civil penalties for violations, with debarment from federal health plans after 10 penalties in 10 years. This directly affects PBMs, in-network pharmacies, and federal health benefit plans covering millions of federal employees and their families. The law aims to ensure fair reimbursement practices and maintain pharmacy choice under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Maddy summaryThe IBOGAINE Act aims to accelerate the development and approval of ibogaine and similar compounds for treating addiction, trauma, and serious mental illnesses by modifying federal drug laws. It creates a new voucher system that grants sponsors of breakthrough mental health drugs priority review by the FDA, while also establishing special registration rules to allow physicians to legally administer Schedule I substances to eligible patients under the "right to try" law. The legislation further directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a dedicated senior official and workforce plan for emerging therapies, mandates timely rescheduling of ibogaine from Schedule I to Schedule II, and requires federal agencies to share clinical trial data to speed up the approval process.

Maddy summaryThe Take Care of America's Veterans Act is a comprehensive legislative bill designed to improve benefits, healthcare access, and administrative efficiency for veterans and their families. The bill directly affects veterans, their surviving spouses, caregivers, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Key provisions include expanding disability compensation for combat-related retirees, allowing remarried surviving spouses to retain certain survivor benefits, and increasing compensation rates for specific disability conditions like sleep apnea and tinnitus. The legislation also mandates significant healthcare improvements, such as establishing a pilot program to coordinate care between the VA and Medicare, creating a formulary for prosthetic items, and requiring the VA to provide lactation spaces in all medical centers. Additionally, the bill introduces administrative reforms to speed up claims processing, prohibit denying claims solely for missed medical appointments, and enhance oversight of the VA's disability rating system.

Maddy summaryThe Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 requires nursing homes, long-term care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and intermediate care facilities to allow two chosen family members or friends to visit residents during times when regular visitation is suspended. These essential caregivers must agree to follow the facility's existing safety and infection control rules, which are no more restrictive than those applied to staff. While facilities can limit access for the first seven days of a suspension or deny entry if a caregiver shows symptoms of a serious infectious disease, they cannot block visits for end-of-life care. Additionally, the bill mandates that complaints about denied access to essential caregivers be investigated and resolved within three days.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.

Maddy summaryHR 3108, the RPM Access Act, increases Medicare reimbursement for remote patient monitoring (RPM) in rural areas by setting a minimum reimbursement floor of 100% for practice expenses and malpractice costs starting in 2026. It requires that RPM services include real-time physician availability to address health issues, use data systems compatible with electronic health records, and mandates providers to report data on cost savings and adherence to medications. The bill directly affects rural Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions like heart failure and diabetes, as well as healthcare providers delivering RPM services in underserved rural communities. It also requires a 5-year report to Congress analyzing cost savings from RPM use, including reduced hospitalizations and medication adherence. The law aims to improve access to RPM in rural areas where healthcare shortages are most severe.

Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act This bill prohibits payment card networks from using merchant codes that distinguish firearms retailers from general-merchandise retailers or sporting-goods retailers. The Department of Justice must enforce this bill and report annually on the resulting investigations and cases.