The House and Senate Vote to Pass Temporary Extensions on Government Funding

On Thursday January 18, 2024, the Senate and House passed the continuing resolution (CR), the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act of 2024, that provides short term government funding through March 1, 2024. In addition, this temporary extension will provide funding for several expiring health programs until March 8, 2024.  

To pass the CR in the House, a “Suspension of the Rules” was needed, in which a two-thirds majority was required of the chamber to pass. Ultimately, the House, in a bipartisan vote, opted in favor of the CR. This vote comes as subsequent delays have prolonged the fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations cycle thus slowing down movement on other legislative priorities.

The expiring health programs that have temporary funding extensions until March 8 include:

• Community Health Centers Program
• National Health Service Corps
• Teaching Health Centers That Operate GME Programs

  Passage of the CR would also:

• Delay implementation of the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) cuts through March 8.
• Reduce the amount of funds in the Medicaid Improvement Fund from $5.8 billion to $5.1 billion.
• Extend the 1.0 work GPCI floor used in the calculation of payments under the Medicare physician fee schedule.
• Reduce the amount of funds in the Medicare Improvement Fund from $2.25 billion to $2.19 billion.
• Extend National Health Security Measures as it relates to:
  • The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response’s direct hire authority for the National Disaster Medical System
  • The ability for States and Tribes to request temporary reassignment of federally funded personnel
  • Three national advisory committees related to preparedness and response
  • Certain authorities related to public-private partnerships under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority

President Biden is expected to sign the CR into law.  

If you would like to become involved in ACA’s advocacy efforts or if you have questions regarding this continuing resolution, please contact the ACA Government Affairs team at advocacy@counseling.org.