The department contingency plan, reviewed by HHS on Dec. 17, outlines measures the department will take if Congress fails to approve a continuing resolution or permanent spending package before the Dec. 20 deadline.
Within HHS, CMS is set to retain 51% of its staff during a shutdown. Some CMS functions, such as survey and certification activities, community outreach, and education initiatives, would be suspended. The agency also anticipates delays in rule-making and policy updates. Medicare and Medicaid would continue operating due to mandatory funding.
Congressional leaders are scrambling to avert a partial shutdown as bipartisan negotiations falter. Republican lawmakers on Dec. 19 failed to pass a pared-down government funding bill backed by President-elect Donald Trump after dropping a broader package he opposed. The revised bill, backed by Mr. Trump, omitted several key healthcare provisions included in a Dec. 18 bipartisan continuing resolution.
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