Republican lawmakers on Dec. 19 failed to pass a pared-down government funding bill backed by President-elect Donald Trump after dropping a broader package he opposed.
The revised bill, backed by Mr. Trump, omitted several key healthcare provisions included in a Dec. 18 bipartisan continuing resolution. It shortened Medicare telehealth reimbursement and hospital-at-home program extensions to March 31, instead of Dec. 31, 2026, and Dec. 31, 2029, respectively. The bill also omitted measures to mitigate physician pay cuts, cancel $8 billion in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts and new regulations that would have targeted pharmacy benefit managers.
One major addition to the bill was Mr. Trump's request to suspend the debt limit through 2027.
"It's a good thing the bill failed in the House, now it's time to go back to the bipartisan agreement we came to," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters Dec. 19, according to The Boston Globe.
Several healthcare provisions remain unresolved as lawmakers race to pass a funding bill before government funding expires on Dec. 20.
While a government shutdown would cause uncertainty, Medicare and Medicaid would continue operating due to mandatory funding. However, prolonged delays could disrupt other areas.
"If there is going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now, under the Biden Administration," Mr. Trump wrote in a Dec. 20 post on Truth Social.
Editor's note: This is an evolving story that Becker's will update as more information becomes available.