The Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act of 2023 amends Medicare rules to allow physical therapists to use temporary replacement providers (locum tenens) for outpatient physical therapy services, aligning with existing provisions for physicians. This directly affects Medicare beneficiaries receiving physical therapy and physical therapy practices needing temporary staffing solutions during provider shortages. The bill updates the Social Security Act to extend the current physician locum tenens rule to physical therapists, ensuring continuity of care without requiring separate approval for temporary coverage. It applies to services furnished after the bill's enactment date.
The HELLPP Act (HR 1634) amends Medicaid to recognize doctors of podiatric medicine (podiatrists) as physicians, enabling them to be reimbursed for services under Medicaid starting January 1, 2024. It also clarifies Medicare’s documentation requirements for therapeutic shoes for people with diabetes, mandating specific written certifications from a managing physician and a podiatrist to confirm medical necessity. These changes directly affect patients with foot conditions, especially those with diabetes, by improving access to podiatrist-provided care and coverage for therapeutic shoes. The bill includes a separate provision strengthening Medicaid program integrity through continuous levies on provider payments, but this does not alter patient coverage. All key provisions take effect on January 1, 2024.
HR 1610 would modernize Medicare coverage for chiropractic care by removing the current restriction that limited beneficiaries to one chiropractic service per visit. It expands coverage to include all services provided by licensed chiropractors within their state-authorized scope, aligning Medicare with VA, military, and private insurance practices. The bill requires chiropractors to complete a Secretary-approved educational webinar to cover non-spinal services, while still allowing payment for spinal manipulation treatments without this requirement. This directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking chiropractic care and chiropractors seeking Medicare reimbursement for their services.
This bill requires Medicare and Medicaid to cover prescription digital therapeutics - software-based treatments for medical conditions like diabetes or mental health disorders - starting January 1, 2024. It mandates Medicare to establish payment rates for manufacturers within one year and create specific billing codes within two years, with temporary codes used until permanent codes are set. Manufacturers must report annual data on pricing, usage, and discounts to Medicare, facing penalties of up to $10,000 per day for incomplete or false reports. The bill directly affects Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries, digital therapeutic companies, and the healthcare billing system by integrating these treatments into federal coverage.
HR 1399, the "Protect Children's Innocence Act," prohibits medical gender-affirming care for minors under 18 by making it a class C felony for providers to perform such care. The bill defines gender-affirming care broadly to include surgical procedures, hormone treatments, and certain cosmetic procedures, with exceptions for medical conditions like reproductive cancers or intersex conditions. It prohibits federal funding for gender-affirming care through programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act, and bans such care in federal health facilities. The bill also prevents institutions of higher education from teaching gender-affirming care and adds immigration consequences for individuals who provide such care to minors.
HR 1276, the "Protect Minors from Medical Malpractice Act of 2023," creates a legal right for minors who undergo gender-transition procedures before age 18 to sue medical practitioners for harms (physical, psychological, or emotional) related to those procedures. It allows such individuals to file civil lawsuits up to 30 years after turning 18, seeking damages, injunctions, or attorney fees. The bill defines "gender-transition procedure" broadly to include puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or surgeries, but excludes treatments for intersex conditions, medical emergencies, or injuries caused by prior procedures. This law directly affects minors receiving such care, medical practitioners performing these procedures, and states that might require them. The bill does not prohibit gender-transition care but establishes a liability framework for practitioners.
HR 1170, the Access to Future Cures Act, would allow individuals to deduct the cost of storing their blood or related biomaterials (like stem cells) as a medical expense on federal income taxes. This directly affects patients who pay for such storage to potentially use in future medical treatments, such as stem cell therapies. The bill amends the tax code to explicitly include these storage costs under qualified medical expenses, which were previously excluded. The change would take effect after the bill is signed into law.
The Countering Economic Coercion Act of 2023 authorizes the President to provide economic support to U.S. allies and partners affected by economic coercion from foreign adversaries. Key provisions include reducing tariffs on goods from affected countries, expediting export licenses, and requesting foreign aid, all while requiring coordination with allied nations. The bill mandates presidential consultation with Congress before taking action and establishes a 45-day congressional review period for these measures. This legislation aims to strengthen international partnerships while creating new opportunities for U.S. businesses and workers.
This bill repeals specific provisions from the Affordable Care Act and its 2010 amendment that restricted certain physician referrals to hospitals under Medicare. It directly affects hospitals and physicians who previously faced limitations on referring Medicare patients to facilities they owned or had financial ties with. The key mechanism restores the original rules that allowed such referrals without the prior restrictions, effectively undoing the 2010 changes. This is a procedural change to existing law, not a new policy.
This bill amends the Social Security Act to exclude wages earned and self-employment income derived from unauthorized employment in the United States from being counted toward Social Security credits. It directly affects undocumented immigrants who work without authorization, preventing those earnings from contributing to their future Social Security benefits. The law changes existing Social Security rules by adding specific exclusions for "service performed by an alien while employed... not authorized to be so employed" and similar self-employment activities. These changes apply to all wages and income earned before, during, or after the bill's enactment, with Social Security recompiling existing benefit calculations to reflect the new rules.
HR 549, the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act, removes waiting periods for disability and Medicare coverage for people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Specifically, it amends Social Security Act sections to allow immediate eligibility for disability insurance benefits (eliminating the standard waiting period) and immediate Medicare coverage (waiving the 24-month waiting period) for these patients. The bill directly affects individuals with metastatic breast cancer who would otherwise face delays in accessing critical benefits. These changes apply to applications filed or benefits beginning after the bill's enactment date. The law makes no other policy changes beyond these specific eligibility adjustments.
The Bipartisan Social Security Commission Act of 2023 establishes a 13-member commission to develop long-term solutions for Social Security solvency. The commission, appointed with bipartisan representation from Congress and experts, must submit recommendations within one year for ensuring the solvency of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund for at least 75 years. Congress must then expedite consideration of these recommendations through a special "approval bill" with strict time limits and no amendments. This bill directly affects future Social Security policy decisions by creating a structured process for addressing the program's financial sustainability.
