Following the House passage of the budget reconciliation bill, the Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough is reviewing the text and communicating with both parties. Her role is to ensure that the bill complies with the “Byrd Rule”, a critical element of the reconciliation process in the Senate whereby each provision must have a direct budgetary impact – changing spending or revenue – and not be “merely incidental” to a broader policy change.
America’s Essential Hospitals has shifted its advocacy focus to the Senate, where changes to the bill are possible. We are actively engaging in conversations with Senate Republican offices on aspects of the bill that would be pernicious to essential hospitals and the communities they serve.
If Senate negotiations result in significant changes to the bill, it will head back to the House. Difficulties await that scenario as deeper Medicaid cuts may cause moderate House Republicans to withhold support when the bill returns to the lower chamber. Conversely, if the Senate scales back those cuts, hardline House conservatives may abandon the bill. Republican leadership is still aiming to pass reconciliation legislation by July 4. America’s Essential Hospitals will continue to engage lawmakers as Senate negotiations take place, and the reconciliation process plays out.
Committee Activity This Week
The Senate and House are out of session this week following the Memorial Day holiday. The Senate will reconvene on Monday, June 2, and the House will reconvene on Tuesday, June 3.
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