Congress passed a continuing resolution to maintain government funding through Feb. 18, 2022. The bill does not further suspend Medicare cuts slated to take effect in the new year. Meanwhile, the Senate continues work on the Build Back Better Act, debt limit legislation, and defense appropriations.

The Build Back Better Act, now under consideration in the Senate, contains damaging cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital and uncompensated care pool payments and lacks critical infrastructure funding for essential hospitals.

The $1.9 trillion package temporarily increases Medicaid disproportionate share hospital allotments to ensure essential hospitals receive the same level of payments as they would have expected absent the pandemic. The package returns to the House for a final vote, expected as early as Tuesday.

Congress races to pass COVID-19 relief through the budget reconciliation process before enhanced unemployment benefits expire March 14. Senate committees hold confirmation hearings for Xavier Becerra as secretary of health and human services.

The House is expected to vote on a compiled reconciliation bill the week of Feb. 22. The Senate for the second time has acquitted former President Donald Trump of impeachment charges. House members are circulating a bipartisan letter calling for protections to the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

For the second time, the House has impeached Donald Trump — this time, for his role in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack. Law enforcement descends on Washington amid threats of violence surrounding the inauguration. The Biden transition team releases a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan.

Following the uprising at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, lawmakers completed their constitutional duty and certified Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President–elect Kamala Harris. Meanwhile, Democrats swept special elections in Georgia, giving the party 50 Senate seats.

Senators of both parties and House Republicans last week began elections for leadership positions in the 116th session of Congress; after the Thanksgiving holiday, lawmakers will continue work to approve a spending bill by Dec. 7.

Senators left Washington earlier than expected to campaign for midterm elections after confirming 15 federal judicial nominees and failing to overturn a regulation expanding short-term insurance plans.

Senate Finance Committee leadership sent a letter to stakeholders requesting information on Medicare and Medicaid policy options that could be used to combat the opioid epidemic.

The measure passed by Congress and signed by President Trump Monday funds the government through Feb. 8 and extends the Children's Health Insurance Program six years, but leaves unresolved a delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts.

Both the House and Senate versions of the bill contain several provisions of concern to essential hospitals. This Action Update details the status of these issues in both versions.

The harmful payment reduction was included in the 2018 Outpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule, expected to be finalized this fall.

The bill would replace Medicaid expansion funding and private insurance subsidies with $1.2 trillion in block grants to states; the Congressional Budget Office is expected to release a score early next week.

Senate committees will focus on market stabilization legislation and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) reauthorization; the association seeks to attach to the CHIP bill a delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts.

After Affordable Care Act repeal efforts collapsed in the Senate, the administration began considering options on cost-sharing reduction payments, but some lawmakers remain focused on repeal.

The Senate approved a motion to proceed, which is needed to open floor debate of a repeal bill; it remains unclear how the Senate will proceed.

Senate Majority Leader McConnell said he would bring up a repeal-only bill that includes a two-year transition period for replacing the Affordable Care Act, but three Republican senators oppose the plan.

Senate Republican leadership continues negotiations with Republican holdouts; a vote on the bill is expected before the month-long August recess.

Negotiations continue; areas of contention include the Medicaid per-capita cap growth rate and the phase out of Medicaid expansion enhanced funding.

A revised draft of the Senate bill was released to address some Republicans' concerns, but it made no meaningful changes to the bill’s Medicaid provisions.

A 13-member Senate working group made up of conservative and moderate Republicans now begins to craft its own version of the legislation.

On Sept. 27, the Senate failed to invoke cloture, which would have allowed it to move to final passage of the continuing resolution.

At stake is funding to combat the Zika virus, among several other policy issues that have kept the measure from moving forward.

The Senate rejected a $1.1 billion Zika funding package, and Patrick Conway, with CMS, testified about the proposed Medicare Part B demonstration project.

Partisan politics follow Scalia death; House speaker to table entitlement reform until next year; congressional panels to hold hearings on HHS budget, opiod abuse, Zika virus.

Congress has increased the debt limit but did not patch the Medicare physician payment system, as physician groups want a full repeal rather than a temporary fix. The Senate Finance Committee has a new chairman, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). Wyden assumed the position after Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) left to serve as ambassador to China.

Bills were passed in committees last year

America’s Essential Hospitals urged Congress to oppose this proposal

Senate considers extending long-term unemployment insurance, House votes on health care bills Senate considers extending long-term unemployment insurance, House votes on health care bills Senate considers extending long-term unemployment insurance, House votes on health care bills Senate considers extending long-term unemployment insurance, House votes on health care bills Senate considers

Senate Finance Committee marks up legislation to repeal the sustainable growth rate

Congress’ top concern was possible budget agreement

The budget committee continued work on an agreement

Congress narrowly avoids reaching the debt ceiling, gears up for healthcare.gov hearings

Senate reached a deal to end the federal government shutdown

CR was set to expire on Sept. 30

House abandoned plans to vote on a bill to extend the continuing resolution

Senate Conservatives Fund announced plans to actively campaign against Senate Minority Leader

Letter suggests security could be compromised by missed IT system deadlines

ACA hearings focus on health insurance exchange implementation and employer mandate delay

Gang of Eight meets with 50 business lobbyists to encourage pressure on House to pass immigration measure

On law's 20th anniversary, members of Congress say law helps reduce drug costs for hundreds of hospital

In letter, senators demand assurance that exchanges will be self-sustaining

House Republican leaders to meet July 10 to discuss whether to take steps toward immigration bill

Senate passed legislation by a vote of 89-9, sent for vote in the House of Representatives