This bill prohibits Medicare from paying for certain custom-fitted or custom-fabricated orthotic and prosthetic devices delivered via "drop shipment" (direct shipping without in-person training from a qualified provider). It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries who need these devices, ensuring they receive necessary in-person fitting and training. The bill also expands which healthcare professionals (including physical therapists, occupational therapists, orthotists, and prosthetists) can prescribe these devices and updates definitions to clarify terms like "orthoses" and "prostheses." Final regulations implementing these changes must be issued within one year of the bill's enactment.
The CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 aims to expand access to telehealth services under Medicare by removing barriers that previously limited who could provide these services and where they could be delivered. The bill eliminates geographic restrictions on telehealth coverage, allows telehealth services to be provided from the patient's home and other clinically appropriate locations, and expands the types of healthcare providers who can offer telehealth services. It also improves the process for adding new telehealth services to Medicare coverage and includes provisions to ensure quality measurement includes telehealth services. This legislation directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking remote care and healthcare providers delivering telehealth services, with key provisions taking effect between 2024 and 2025.
The Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act (HR 3882) updates U.S. trade law to better address international trade practices that disadvantage American businesses. It establishes special rules for handling multiple investigations of the same merchandise (called "successive investigations"), requiring the Commerce Department to consider previous injury determinations when making new findings. The bill also creates mechanisms to address market distortions from foreign government subsidies, including currency undervaluation, and strengthens procedures to prevent duty evasion through certification requirements for importers. These changes primarily affect foreign exporters of goods subject to U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, as well as U.S. importers of those goods.
HR 3875, the Expanded Telehealth Access Act, expands Medicare coverage for telehealth services by adding new healthcare professionals to the list of providers eligible for payment. It specifically includes licensed audiologists, occupational therapists (and their assistants under supervision), physical therapists (and their assistants under supervision), and speech-language pathologists. The bill ensures these providers are paid the same rate for telehealth services as they would be for in-person care under Medicare. This change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking remote therapy services and the new provider types who can now offer these services via telehealth.
HR 3748, the SAFE Act of 2023, requires U.S. agricultural agencies to proactively negotiate trade agreements with foreign governments to minimize export disruptions caused by animal disease outbreaks. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the U.S. Trade Representative, to establish regionalization, zoning, or compartmentalization agreements with key export markets for U.S. livestock and animal products. The bill also mandates that the Food Safety and Inspection Service notify state agricultural departments and producer groups within three days if export-related information is removed from official libraries. This directly affects livestock producers and exporters by aiming to stabilize access to international markets during disease events. The law amends the Animal Health Protection Act to formalize these negotiation and notification requirements.
HR 3739, the FAIR TARIFF Act of 2023, requires U.S. Customs to refund overpaid duties for specific imports from European Union countries during two defined periods: October 18-December 17, 2019, and January 12-February 10, 2022. It targets products classified under certain Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes (e.g., 9903.89.10-9903.89.49 for 2019, 9903.89.57-9903.89.59 for 2022) that were incorrectly taxed due to tariff misclassification. Importers must apply for refunds within one year of the law’s enactment, with refunds processed within 180 days of application. The bill also mandates a 60-day advance notice in the Federal Register before implementing new tariff increases under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
HR 3674 increases Medicare payments for specific physician services that rely heavily on equipment and supplies (defined as services where 65%+ of costs are for equipment/supplies). It raises payment rates by 10% in 2024 and 15% in 2025 for these services in non-hospital settings like doctor's offices. The bill funds these increases through federal appropriations to the Medicare Trust Fund. It directly affects physicians and clinics providing those defined services, aiming to stabilize reimbursement for providers of high-cost equipment-dependent care.
This bill simplifies regulations for rural health clinics (RHCs) by reducing administrative burdens. It allows RHCs to contract with physician assistants and nurse practitioners (instead of requiring direct employment), updates the definition of "rural" to exclude areas with 50,000+ residents, and removes outdated lab service requirements by requiring only "prompt access" to clinical labs. These changes directly affect RHCs, enabling them to more flexibly staff and operate while complying with state practice laws. The amendments take effect January 1, 2024, applying to services provided on or after that date.
This bill grants the President new authority to negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement with the United Kingdom to reduce tariffs and other trade barriers. It requires negotiations to begin within 180 days of enactment and sets a March 1, 2025 deadline for finalizing an agreement. The bill includes specific limits on tariff reductions, preventing cuts below 50% of current rates for most goods or below Uruguay Round levels for agricultural products. This would directly affect U.S. businesses, farmers, and consumers by potentially lowering import costs and expanding market access for U.S. exports.
HR 3611, the Kazakhstan Permanent Normal Trade Relations Act of 2023, makes Kazakhstan's existing "normal trade relations" (NTR) status permanent by removing the need for annual U.S. presidential reviews under the Trade Act of 1974. This bill directly affects U.S. trade policy with Kazakhstan, ending the requirement for the President to annually determine whether Kazakhstan meets emigration freedom standards (which it has satisfied since 1997). The key provision allows the President to formally extend permanent NTR treatment to Kazakhstan's products, eliminating the current annual review process. Once enacted, Kazakhstan would automatically receive the same most-favored-nation tariff rates as other NTR countries, streamlining trade without further congressional action.
HR 3561, the PATIENT Act of 2023, requires hospitals, health insurance plans, and pharmacy benefit managers to publicly disclose detailed pricing information for healthcare services and drugs. Hospitals must publish standard charges for 300+ shoppable services, including gross charges, payer-specific negotiated rates, and discounted cash prices, with updates required annually. Health plans must provide real-time information on in-network rates, cost sharing, deductibles, and prior authorization requirements for covered services. The bill establishes enforcement mechanisms, including civil monetary penalties for non-compliance, with fines ranging from $300 per day for small hospitals to $5 million for large hospitals that fail to comply with the transparency requirements.
This bill allows Medicare-only PACE program enrollees (those not on Medicaid) to choose a standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan starting in 2025, instead of being limited to their PACE provider's plan. It requires PACE programs to inform members about this option and help them select a "qualified standalone" plan that meets cost criteria (equal or lower out-of-pocket costs and subsidies compared to the PACE plan). PACE programs must monitor drug use and share claims data with the chosen drug plan to coordinate care, and they will no longer receive payment for drug coverage when members enroll in an outside plan. The change applies to PACE enrollees who qualify under Medicare Part D, not Medicaid.
