Rep. Steve Cohen

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act, modifies the Children's Health Insurance Program to expand dental coverage for low-income children and pregnant women. It mandates that states remove any lifetime or annual dollar limits on dental benefits for eligible participants and requires states to offer dental-only supplemental coverage instead of allowing them to opt out. The changes take effect six months after the law is enacted, ensuring that these specific groups receive consistent access to necessary dental services without financial caps.

Maddy summaryThe Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026 mandates that Medicaid programs cover a range of dental and oral health services for adults starting in 2027, including dentures, implants, and treatments for pain and emergencies. To help states afford this expansion, the bill provides 100 percent federal funding for these specific services for a 12-quarter period beginning in 2027, while allowing states the option to add extra dental benefits if they choose. In addition to expanding coverage, the legislation requires the federal government to develop standardized quality measures to track adult oral health outcomes and report on disparities based on race, ethnicity, and other demographics. The bill also directs the creation of an outreach program to help eligible adults find care and establishes a timeline for a comprehensive report on access barriers and reimbursement issues.

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 Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals in the criminal justice system by restricting financial incentives for states that use restraints on pregnant inmates. Under the bill, states receiving federal justice grants would face a 25 percent funding penalty if they fail to implement laws limiting the use of shackles on pregnant individuals, with those withheld funds redirected to compliant states. The legislation also directs the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice to create and fund programs in at least six federal facilities and across various state and local prisons that provide specialized prenatal care, mental health support, and reentry assistance. These programs are designed to address specific health disparities, particularly for racial and ethnic minority groups, by offering culturally competent care, nutrition counseling, and opportunities to maintain contact with newborn children. Additionally, the act requires an independent oversight organization to monitor program implementation and mandates a Government Accountability Office report to analyze maternal and infant health data within the correctional system.

Maddy summaryThe No Passes for Polluters Act of 2026 requires Congress to explicitly approve any exemptions from Clean Air Act regulations before the President or federal agencies can use them. Under this bill, the President must submit a detailed message to both houses of Congress explaining the reasons and facts behind any proposed exemption, which then triggers a special legislative process. To pass such an exemption, a joint resolution must be approved by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, with limited debate and no amendments allowed. Additionally, the Comptroller General will review these proposals to ensure they have legal authority, and any unauthorized use of exemptions could lead to civil lawsuits. The legislation also mandates that the President reconsider certain executive branch emissions regulations every three years.

Maddy summaryHR 6529, the Protecting Families from AI Data Center Energy Costs Act, mandates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to hold a technical conference within 90 days of enactment. The conference will include AI data centers, utilities, and ratepayer advocates to develop strategies protecting residential and small commercial customers from rising energy costs caused by large energy users. FERC must then submit a report with recommendations to Congress within 180 days. This procedural bill directly affects households and small businesses facing potential rate increases due to AI data center energy demands.

Maddy summaryThe AADAPT Act reauthorizes and expands Project ECHO grants to improve Alzheimer’s and dementia care through technology-enabled training. It specifically funds grants for healthcare providers in rural, frontier, or medically underserved areas to enhance early diagnosis, quality care, and provider retention for dementia patients. The bill authorizes $1 million annually (2027-2032) for these dementia-focused training programs, requiring funds to supplement - not replace - existing resources. This directly supports primary care providers licensed to serve underserved communities, using collaborative online learning to address care gaps.

Maddy summaryThe Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act 2.0 of 2026 allows specific addiction medicine specialists to prescribe methadone for opioid use disorder to be dispensed directly through pharmacies, rather than requiring patients to attend traditional treatment clinics. This change permits these qualified doctors to use telemedicine for patient care and requires that the methadone be in a liquid or dispersible tablet form. While the bill maintains existing clinic-based treatment options, it streamlines access by removing the need for pharmacies to obtain separate registrations to dispense the medication. The law also mandates that patients sign informed consent forms explaining how privacy rules differ between clinic and pharmacy settings, and it requires the Drug Enforcement Administration to report on the program's progress to Congress every year.

Maddy summaryHR 2913, the Ukraine Support Act, provides comprehensive U.S. support for Ukraine in response to Russia's invasion. The bill authorizes security assistance including lend-lease authority for military equipment, establishes a Ukraine Reconstruction Trust Fund for economic recovery, and imposes new sanctions targeting Russian financial institutions, oil companies, and government officials. It also includes provisions to counter Russian disinformation, support Radio Free Europe, and address the kidnapping of Ukrainian children. The legislation directly affects U.S. foreign policy, Ukraine's defense capabilities, and Russia's access to international financial systems. The act aims to strengthen Ukraine's sovereignty while holding Russia accountable for its actions.

Maddy summaryThe Save MEDICARE Act of 2026 aims to improve the Medicare Advantage program by starting in 2028 with several changes to how health plans are paid and monitored. It requires the government to exclude diagnoses from chart reviews when calculating payments to prevent plans from inflating costs based on questionable data. The bill also speeds up audits and appeals to ensure faster resolution of coding disputes and introduces a new penalty system to recover overpayments from plans. Additionally, the law allows states to enforce Medicare rules within their borders and bans financial incentives for doctors based on how they code patient records. Finally, it establishes a mechanism for the Department of Veterans Affairs to recover costs when Medicare Advantage plans cover care that should have been paid for by the VA.