The House approved a Republican-led continuing resolution (CR) Sept. 19 to fund the federal government through Nov. 20, shifting the shutdown fight to the Senate as the Sept. 30 funding deadline nears. The Senate has rejected both the House-passed proposal and a Democratic alternative, leaving the path forward uncertain and the likelihood of a government shutdown increasingly real. A lengthy shutdown would put telehealth and hospital-at-home programs at risk, while the impact of the pending Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding cuts would have a longer timeline before they would go into effect.
Medicare Advantage
Last week, the association endorsed bipartisan legislation—H.R. 5454 and S. 2879—to strengthen Medicare Advantage (MA) prompt pay requirements. Led by Reps. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) and Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) and Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), the bill would require MA organizations to adhere to stricter and more consistent rules for paying both in-network and out-of-network claims. The proposal aims to ensure timely and equitable payment to hospitals, physicians, and other providers.
Key Hearings
The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing Sept. 16 to examine whether nonprofit hospitals can justify their tax exemptions. Republicans raised concerns about loopholes and questioned premium tax credits, though some acknowledged the essential role nonprofits play in underserved communities. Democrats countered that nonprofits are vital to access and equity, already operate on thin margins, and provide essential care; they warned that recent cuts and H.R. 1 risk coverage losses, closures, and higher premiums, and urged preserving tax credits.
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing Sept. 17 on leadership turnover at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Republicans were divided in their approach, with some voicing skepticism about vaccine policies. Democrats largely pointed to staff cuts, weakened surveillance, and vaccine confusion as evidence of political interference and broader threats to science, stressing the need for transparency and evidence-based policy.
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing Sept. 18 to review bills to expand seniors’ access to innovative care. Republicans promoted bipartisan measures to reduce Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services delays and barriers. Democrats supported the bills but argued their impact is undermined by broader Trump administration policies, including cuts to the National Institutes of Health and CDC and the expiration of premium tax credits.
Committee Activity This Week
Both the House and Senate are out on recess this week.
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