CMS has outlined the activities that will and won’t continue during the federal government shutdown.
The federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1 after lawmakers failed to reach a spending deal.
CMS is retaining 53% of its staff, 3,311 employees, during the shutdown.
Here is what the agency said will and won’t continue during a lapse in appropriations:
What will continue
- CMS said it will have sufficient funding for Medicaid to fund the first quarter of fiscal 2026, which runs through Dec. 31.
- The agency will maintain the staff necessary to make payments to eligible states for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
- Federal marketplace activities will continue, including eligibility verification.
- Other non-discretionary activities, including Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control and the Center Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. Will also continue.
What won’t continue
- Healthcare facility survey and certification: Activities will focus on investigations of the most serious incidents of patient or resident harm. Other activities, such as recertification surveys, initial surveys and less serious complaint investigations and all surveys by federal staff will be suspended.
- Policy and rule making: With limited staff, CMS expects delays in rule-making and other policy development.
- Contract oversight: The agency will be largely unable to provide oversight to many of its major contractors including the Medicare administrative contractors, Medicare call centers and other IT contractors.
- Outreach and education: Many national and community outreach and education activities will slow down or stop. This could include Medicare card and other mailings.
- Beneficiary case: Services will be largely suspended.
