Spending package would extend certain health care provisions

The House and Senate Appropriations Committees March 3 released a package of six appropriations bills that would fund certain federal agencies through fiscal year 2024 and contains certain health care provisions of interest to hospitals. The House is expected to consider the legislation by March 6 and the Senate later this week.  

The health care provisions would eliminate Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts for FY 2024 and delay FY 2025 DSH cuts to Jan. 1, 2025; extend the Medicare-dependent hospital and enhanced low-volume hospital programs through December 2024; reduce a 3.34% physician payment cut that began Jan. 1; and extend the Community Health Centers, National Health Service Corps, and Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education programs through December.

The package does not include site-neutral payment cuts to hospitals or changes to current Hospital Price Transparency rule requirements. AHA members will receive a Special Bulletin with details on the spending package.

Congress expects to release and vote on the six other appropriations bills for FY 2024 before they expire March 22, including the Labor, Health and Human Services legislation.