Congressional spending plan: What’s in it for healthcare, and what isn’t

Chief Healthcare Executive December 21, 2024
Ron Southwick

Lawmakers crafted legislation to fund the government and avert a shutdown. It includes a short-term extension for telehealth programs, but doesn’t block cuts in Medicare payments to doctors.

Congress has approved a spending package to avoid a government shutdown and finance key federal programs, including healthcare programs.

Healthcare trade groups have been sweating over the package, which included key priorities for hospitals and health providers. The House passed a stopgap spending bill Friday night to finance government programs at current levels into mid-March. The Senate voted early Saturday morning to approve the package, sending it to President Biden for his signature.

The spending plan extends telehealth programs into the spring, but doesn’t block reductions in Medicare payments to physicians.

The...

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