Rep. Lloyd Smucker

Maddy summaryThe Saving Today's Acute-Care Resources Act modifies how Medicare calculates payment rates for long-term care hospitals to ensure they receive appropriate funding for treating complex patients. Starting in fiscal year 2027, the bill expands the criteria for avoiding payment reductions by adding a "high acuity" standard that considers patients transferred from acute care or critical access hospitals with severe diagnoses. It also updates existing rules to include discharges from long-term care hospitals that have undergone significant construction projects or hold state certificates of need. These changes aim to adjust reimbursement levels based on the severity of patient conditions and the specific history of the hospital treating them.

Maddy summaryHR 6251 would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow U.S. importation of polar bear trophies (excluding internal organs) from sport hunts in Canada that occurred before specific dates: February 18, 1997, or May 15, 2008. The bill requires hunters to provide proof of legal harvest before those dates and directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits without considering current population status or other restrictions under the Act. It directly affects hunters who took polar bears in Canada before these dates and wish to import trophies, bypassing standard MMPA import limitations. The policy change only applies to trophies from past hunts, not future hunting activities.

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 summaryThe Vaccine Injury Compensation Modernization Act of 2026 expands the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program by increasing the number of special masters to at least 10, extending their terms, and raising maximum compensation awards to $600,000 for both vaccine-related deaths and pain and suffering. The bill also extends the time limit for filing injury claims from 36 months to 5 years and requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to include adults and pregnant women in its annual reports. Additionally, the legislation adds COVID-19 vaccines to the official list of covered vaccines, clarifies rules regarding civil lawsuits for vaccine injuries, and mandates the inclusion of specific vaccines like shingles and RSV in the federal excise tax. To fund these changes, the act raises the vaccine excise tax from 75 cents to $2.20 per dose and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to submit detailed budgets for the compensation programs.

Maddy summaryThe Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act amends the tax code to exclude non-punitive damages from income tax for survivors of sexual violence, including compensation for sexual acts or contact (like assault), in addition to existing exclusions for physical injuries. It removes the requirement for medical records to prove the damages relate to sexual acts or contact, allowing survivors to rely on court judgments or settlement agreements stating the damages are for such acts. The policy change applies to damages received after the law's enactment, with specific rules for existing cases, and mandates a public awareness campaign by the Treasury and Justice Department to inform survivors about this tax exclusion. This directly benefits survivors receiving civil damages in sexual violence cases by reducing their tax burden.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the memory of Corey Comperatore, a veteran and volunteer firefighter from Sarver, Pennsylvania, who passed away on July 13, 2024. It formally acknowledges his service to his community and country while mourning his loss as a husband, father, and hero. The House of Representatives is asked to express its condolences and celebrate his life through this commemorative measure.

Maddy summaryThe Tax Exempt Hospital Transparency Act requires large and high-revenue nonprofit hospitals to submit detailed annual reports to the IRS regarding their financial assistance, community health initiatives, and operational spending. Specifically, these organizations must disclose how they address identified community health needs, the value of financial aid provided, and the numbers of applications granted or denied. The bill also mandates that larger hospitals break down their spending on quality improvement, nonclinical programs, and specific health service lines, while high-revenue facilities must report advertising costs and data related to the 340B drug discount program. These reporting requirements are designed to increase transparency for taxpayers and the public by providing concrete data on how tax-exempt hospitals use their resources and serve their communities.

Maddy summaryThe Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026 modernizes the H-2A visa program by transferring administrative authority to the Department of Homeland Security and introducing a unified online platform to streamline applications for employers and workers. Key provisions include establishing new housing standards with mandatory inspections, creating a system for staggered worker entry and exit, and allowing workers to transfer between employers without losing their status. The bill also defines specific job classifications for wage calculations, expands the scope of covered agricultural activities, and provides legal protections for employers who document the employment of workers seeking visa status. Additionally, it requires agencies to develop a heat illness prevention plan and allows for contract termination due to natural disasters.

Maddy summaryThe GRACE for Military Survivors Act extends the deadline for contributing military death benefits to Roth IRAs and Coverdell education savings accounts from one year to three years. This change directly benefits families of service members who receive these death benefits, giving them more time to save for retirement or education. The law applies to benefits received after the bill is enacted and includes a special rule allowing contributions made within a specific window for benefits received between 2001 and the enactment date. By amending the Internal Revenue Code, the bill ensures that eligible funds can be deposited into these tax-advantaged accounts without losing their value due to time limits.

Maddy summaryThe Medicaid RAC Improvement Act of 2026 strengthens oversight of the Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractor program to better detect and recover incorrect payments. It requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to establish clear communication rules for when state program exceptions expire and mandates detailed annual reports on audit results, including amounts recovered and underpayments. The bill also expands the program to include Medicaid managed care plans, requiring these organizations to allow audits of their claims and cooperate with recovery efforts. Additionally, the legislation directs the government to study barriers preventing states from participating in the program and to run a five-year demonstration project to increase state involvement. Finally, it clarifies that audits can review payments made up to four years prior to the current fiscal year.