Congress passes spending package with health care extenders 

Mar 11, 2024 - 03:02 PM

The Senate voted 75-22 on March 8 to pass and send to the president for his signature a package of six appropriations bills funding certain federal agencies through fiscal year 2024, which contains health care provisions of interest to hospitals. The House passed the legislation early last week and President Biden signed it March 9.
 
The health care provisions 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.  
 
Congress expects to release and vote on the six other appropriations bills for FY 2024 before they expire March 22, including legislation funding Department of Health and Human Services programs. 

Related News Articles

Perspective
Speaking Up for Priorities That Will Help Hospitals Advance Health for Patients and Communities
It’s an understatement to say everything on the national political scene is both unprecedented and unpredictable these days.To state the obvious, there will be…
Headline
In advance of IPPS final rule, AHA urges CMS not to cut DSH payments 
The AHA July 25 urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to maintain the uninsured rate at 8.7% under the inpatient prospective payment system…
Headline
AHA comments to senators on proposed legislation to improve primary care payment 
The AHA July 15 commented to Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., responding to a request for information based on the Pay PCPs Act,…
Headline
House committee passes HHS appropriations bill for FY 2025 
The House Appropriations Committee July 10 voted 31-25 to approve legislation that would provide $185.8 billion in funding for the departments of Labor, Health…
Headline
House Energy and Commerce Committee moves SPEAK Act 
The House Energy and Commerce Committee June 12 passed AHA-supported legislation during a markup of bills that passed the Health Subcommittee in May. The…
Headline
Congress reintroduces Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act to streamline prior authorization under Medicare Advantage
The AHA praised House and Senate leaders in letters June 12 for reintroducing the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, bipartisan legislation that…