House GOP Seek New Plan to Avert Shutdown
House Republicans are searching for a new plan to avert a government shutdown in 15 days, a move that could shine the spotlight on expiring health provisions during the lame duck session.
However, even a short-term continuing resolution would delay the start of new initiatives at the Health and Human Services Department that rely on new appropriations. The National Institutes of Health has warned in the past it would have to dole out grants below the original amount until the government finalizes spending plans.
House Speaker Mike Johnson Johnson’s (R-La.) pitch for a stopgap funding bill through March 28, 2025 — paired with a GOP bill to require voters to show proof of citizenship — sputtered last week. He delayed a vote that was initially planned for Wednesday. The Speaker told reporters he’d work through the weekend to build consensus on a plan.
House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said he planned to talk with Johnson in person about the next steps. Top GOP members of Cole’s committee have said they’d prefer a stopgap into December, rather than March, Jack Fitzpatrick and Ken Tran report.
“The CR battle seems to be playing out in a predictable manner with a bare bones funding resolution into December the most likely outcome,” Duane Wright, a senior government analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, told Bloomberg Government.
“This sets the stage for a number of expiring health provisions to be front and center for lawmakers,” he added.
Wright said he’s keeping an eye on extending programs that allows patients to receive acute care at home instead of the hospital and Medicare payment cuts to clinical labs. “We think both will be addressed. This package could include the House-passed Biosecure Act, if it’s not included in the annual defense policy bill.”
What the House Funding Plan Means for Health: Health Care Brief
bgov.com
September 17, 2024 10:34 am
House GOP Seek New Plan to Avert Shutdown
House Republicans are searching for a new plan to avert a government shutdown in 15 days, a move that could shine the spotlight on expiring health provisions during the lame duck session.
However, even a short-term continuing resolution would delay the start of new initiatives at the Health and Human Services Department that rely on new appropriations. The National Institutes of Health has warned in the past it would have to dole out grants below the original amount until the government finalizes spending plans.
House Speaker Mike Johnson Johnson’s (R-La.) pitch for a stopgap funding bill through March 28, 2025 — paired with a GOP bill to require voters to show proof of citizenship — sputtered last week. He delayed a vote that was initially planned for Wednesday. The Speaker told reporters he’d work through the weekend to build consensus on a plan.
House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said he planned to talk with Johnson in person about the next steps. Top GOP members of Cole’s committee have said they’d prefer a stopgap into December, rather than March, Jack Fitzpatrick and Ken Tran report.
“The CR battle seems to be playing out in a predictable manner with a bare bones funding resolution into December the most likely outcome,” Duane Wright, a senior government analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, told Bloomberg Government.
“This sets the stage for a number of expiring health provisions to be front and center for lawmakers,” he added.
Wright said he’s keeping an eye on extending programs that allows patients to receive acute care at home instead of the hospital and Medicare payment cuts to clinical labs. “We think both will be addressed. This package could include the House-passed Biosecure Act, if it’s not included in the annual defense policy bill.”