With the clock ticking to avoid a government shutdown, the Senate majority leader set a Sept. 30 vote on a previously rejected continuing resolution and top Democrats met with the president.
Without a funding deal, the federal government will shut down Oct. 1.
Here are three updates healthcare leaders should know:
Senate to vote on continuing resolution Sept. 30
Majority Leader John Thune said the Senate will vote again Sept. 30 on a House-passed continuing resolution to keep the federal government funded through Nov. 21, Politico reported Sept. 29.
The bill previously failed in the Senate on Sept. 19 in a 44-48 vote. A competing proposal from Senate Democrats — which would have funded the government through Oct. 31 and included additional healthcare funding — also failed by a 47-45 vote.
The bill, which passed the House by a 217-212 vote, would extend several key healthcare programs through Nov. 21, including the Medicare-dependent hospital and low-volume adjustment programs, telehealth and hospital-at-home flexibilities, and the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act. It would also delay Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts set to take effect Oct. 1.
Senate Democrats rejected the bill over concerns that it did not include provisions to extend ACA enhanced premium tax credits or reverse nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Democratic leaders meet with President Trump
Mr. Thune’s announcement came shortly before Democratic leaders met with President Donald Trump.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said after the meeting that “we have very large differences on healthcare and on their ability to undo whatever budget we agree to through rescissions and through impoundment,” according to The New York Times.
HHS: Major programs would continue under shutdown
HHS said Sept. 29 that it will use its authority under the Anti-Deficiency Act to maintain department activities during the possible shutdown.
“Over the duration of any lapse, HHS will continue to review its resources, authorities and flexibilities under the law to minimize the impact of such a lapse on the safety of human life and the protection of property,” the department said in a news release. “HHS will rely on exceptions in the ADA to continue to protect human life and property, such as monitoring for disease outbreaks conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
HHS will also use exceptions under the act to retain in support funded-activities such as Medicare, Medicaid and other mandatory health program payments.”
