Making Sense of the Federal Budget Process for Managed Care

Funding season in Washington, DC means a lot of confusing terms get thrown around, like “continuing resolution,” “omnibus” or “minibus,” and “budget reconciliation.” Despite the dry language, budget packages can result in landmark legislation. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, for example, was passed as a reconciliation bill. This year, we may have two or more overlapping budget bills. They’re likely to contain some of the most significant legislation of 2025. But how are they different, and what does it mean for health care, and specifically for managed care?

New Year’s Continuing Resolutions

The federal government’s fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 of the following year. In theory, this means that Congress needs...