HHS announces contingency plan should appropriations expire tonight

The Medicare program would continue largely without disruption during a short-term lapse in appropriations if Congress fails to continue funding the federal government before the current funding expires tonight, according to the Department of Health and Human Services’ contingency staffing plan. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ other non-discretionary activities also would continue, the agency said. In addition, states would have sufficient funding for Medicaid through the second quarter; the Children’s Health Insurance Program would make payments to eligible states from remaining carryover balances; and key federal health insurance exchange activities would continue using carryover from user fees. The contingency plan calls for HHS to furlough half of its staff as of day two of a near-term funding hiatus and summarizes the expected impact on various HHS agencies.