Congress today passed and President Trump signed into law a massive two-year budget bill containing a number of priorities important to hospitals and health systems. In addition to immediately funding the government until March 23, the bill also raises the debt ceiling and sets spending levels for the next two years, raising defense and domestic spending by about $300 billion. Among other provisions important to hospitals and health systems, the bill delays $5 billion in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital reductions scheduled for fiscal years 2018 and 2019; extends several Medicare payment adjustments that support access in rural communities; eases future electronic health record regulatory burdens; and provides additional funding for disaster relief, the opioid crisis and Children's Health Insurance Program. For reaction, see the statement from AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack.

Related News Articles

Headline
The House Ways and Means Subcommittees on Health and Oversight held a joint hearing today to discuss lessons learned, challenges and opportunities to improve…
Headline
The AHA today expressed support for the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act, a bill that would eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient…
Chairperson's File
Public
This month Congress enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — a sweeping package that contained many of President Trump’s legislative priorities on taxes,…
Headline
The AHA July 8 wrote in opposition to the “Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act” (H.R. 4002), which would repeal current law banning the creation…
Headline
The AHA July 2 expressed support for the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (H.R. 3890), bipartisan legislation that would add 14,000 Medicare-funded…
Headline
The House July 3 voted 218-214 to pass the final version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which enacts many of President Trump’s legislative…