The House of Representatives passed a crucial continuing resolutionĀ (CR) by a narrow vote of 217-213, ensuring the federal government will remain funded through September 30. The legislation also includes key health care provisions set to expire at the end of March, offering vital extensions to programs serving rural and underserved communities.
With government funding set to expire on March 14, this bill provides a temporary lifeline while lawmakers work toward a more comprehensive budget agreement. The Senate is expected to review the bill this week.
Key Health Care Provisions Extended
The CR includes several important health care provisions designed to ensure access to care for millions of Americans, particularly in rural areas:
- Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Relief: The bill eliminates planned cuts to Medicaid DSH funding through September 30, 2025, helping hospitals that serve a large number of low-income patients.
- Medicare Rural Extenders: The bill extends the enhanced low-volume adjustment program through September 30, 2025, providing additional funding to rural hospitals with fewer Medicare patients. It also extends the Medicare-dependent hospital program through October 1, 2025, which supports small rural hospitals that rely heavily on Medicare.
- Medicare Telehealth and Hospital-at-Home Extensions: The legislation extends key telehealth waivers and the hospital-at-home program through September 30, 2025, maintaining access to remote health services and at-home care for Medicare beneficiaries.
- Extension of the Work Geographic Index Floor: The bill extends a 1.0 floor on the work geographic practice cost index under the Medicare program through October 1, 2025, helping to ensure equitable payments to health care providers in rural and underserved areas.
- Medicare Rural Ambulance: The CR extends add-on payments for ambulance services in rural, “super-rural,” and urban areas through October 1, 2025. These payments are crucial for maintaining access to emergency medical services in hard-to-reach areas.
As the Senate considers this important legislation, these extensions provide a temporary but critical measure to support health care services across the country, particularly for vulnerable populations.
