Senate fails to pass CR, government shutdown begins while health programs expire

The federal government shut down Oct. 1 following a failed Senate vote on the House-passed continuing resolution to fund the government by midnight Sept. 30. The Senate convened Oct. 1 for another vote on the CR which also failed by a tally of 55-45. During both votes on the House-passed CR, Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Angus King, I-Maine, sided with Republicans in favor of the bill, while Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., voted against it with most Democrats. The bill would have funded the federal government through Nov. 21. A short-term funding bill led by Senate Democrats also failed during votes Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 by a tally of 47-53 along party lines. Sixty votes are needed to pass the spending bill. Additional votes on the CR are expected this week and throughout the weekend, if necessary.  

The House-passed CR would have extended key health care programs that expired yesterday, including the Medicare-dependent Hospital and low-volume adjustment programs, telehealth and hospital-at-home flexibilities, and the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act. It would have also delayed Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital cuts that became effective today.  

The AHA will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available.