The United States Congress is poised to pass a one-week continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 23, kicking the can on major funding decisions while temporarily averting a government shutdown.
The U.S. House voted 221-204 on Dec. 14 to pass this one-week funding extension. The legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate where leaders are optimistic that it will pass before funding runs out on Dec. 16.
Importantly, the legislation includes provisions to extend funding for key WHA priorities of rural Medicare-Dependent hospitals (MDH) and Low-Volume Adjustment hospitals (LVH), also through Dec. 23. As covered in last week's The Valued Voice, WHA has made this a key federal priority, sending a coalition letter from the impacted Wisconsin hospitals and health systems supporting the extension and making this a lead issue in visits to Wisconsin's Congressional delegation on Capitol Hill in June, September, and just last week. Wisconsin currently has at least 16 hospitals that would see cuts of more than $19 million annually without funding to continue these programs.
Meanwhile, Congress is continuing to work on getting agreement for a longer-term spending bill to fund the government, potentially including additional items to support health care. As also mentioned in last week's The Valued Voice article, WHA's group of hospital leaders urged the importance of Congress including a variety of health care priorities in a year-end funding bill, to provide relief to hospitals and health systems that are facing a very challenging financial and care environment.
Contact WHA Vice President of Federal and State Relations Jon Hoelter with questions.