Congress avoided a government shutdown by passing on Dec. 14 a one-week continuing resolution (CR) that funds the government through Dec. 23, and buys additional time to broker a broader fiscal year (FY) 2023 spending deal.
On Dec. 20, lawmakers released proposed legislative text of a $1.66 trillion FY 2023 omnibus spending bill. Important to essential hospitals, the bill would:
- Bolster the health care workforce.
- Waive the 4 percent Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) reduction.
- Mitigate numerous looming physician payment cuts.
- Extend the low-volume Medicare adjustment for small rural prospective payment system hospitals and the Medicare-Dependent Hospital Program.
- Extend telehealth flexibility, including the hospital at home waiver, for two additional years.
- Provide a glide path for Medicaid providers after the public health emergency ends.
- Support access to mental health services.
- Improve pandemic preparedness.
America’s Essential Hospitals is pleased that Congress included multiple essential hospital priorities and urges lawmakers to take up and pass the legislation without delay. We will circulate an Action Update with additional information to members.
This Week in Congress
The Senate and House are both in session this week. The Senate is expected to act first on the omnibus, with a procedural vote and a floor vote in the coming days. After that, the House of Representatives will vote on the bill.
Join the Federal Action Network Today!
Stay connected to the latest from Washington. Join our Federal Action Network — no cost for members — and gain exclusive access to advocacy expertise and updates.
