Legislation and Legislative Advocacy
The American Hospital Association (AHA) shares resources on health care legislation being considered by the U.S. House and Senate and legislative advocacy opportunities for hospitals and health systems.
Budget reconciliation is an optional process under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 that allows for expedited consideration of certain fiscal legislation that makes changes to mandatory spending, revenues and/or the debt limit.
This year, House and Senate Republicans are expected to use the budget reconciliation process to pass key agenda items on taxes, energy and border security, and they may look to health measures to pay for this legislation.
This is now the longest government shutdown on record, surpassing the previous record from 2018-2019, which lasted 35 days. Over the past 38 days, the Senate has voted 14 times on the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to extend government funding and health care waivers until Nov. 21.
Senate negotiations on a potential funding deal to end the record-long government shutdown are ongoing, and the chamber is likely to continue working through this weekend in hopes of nearing a resolution.
AHA Nov. 5 sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services with recommendations for implementing specific provisions in the OBBBA.
The AHA expressed support Nov. 3 for the bipartisan Home Health Stabilization Act (H.R. 5142), legislation that would establish a two-year pause on planned cuts to home health services from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
This week brings the fourth week of the federal government shutdown as Congress has yet to pass legislation to fund the government.
The government shutdown is expected to continue into next week as the Senate is expected to adjourn Oct. 23 with no plans to vote this weekend.
Government funding and certain health care programs and waivers expired at midnight
Sept. 30 as congressional leaders were unable to reach an agreement to keep the
government funded.
The Senate Oct. 17 failed for a 10th time to advance the continuing resolution to extend government funding and end the ongoing shutdown.