Congress’ healthcare package: Key wins for hospitals, telehealth and physician pay

Becker's Healthcare December 18, 2024
Alan Condon

Lawmakers have unveiled a sweeping government funding deal containing a significant healthcare package that would extend Medicare telehealth flexibilities, increase physician reimbursement rates and implement new regulations targeting pharmacy benefit managers, among other provisions.

Congress is working to pass the 1,547-page continuing resolution to prevent the federal government from shutting down after funding runs out Dec. 20. The package includes authorization for the government to keep running through March 14, 2025.

Key components of the bipartisan healthcare package include:

• Delaying the Medicaid disproportionate hospital share pay cuts for FY 2025 until Jan. 1, 2027.
• Extending certain Medicare telehealth flexibilities until Dec. 31, 2026.
• Temporarily increasing the Medicare physician fee schedule by 2.5% for 2025. The temporary pay bump...

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