Congress sends Biden bill to fund health agencies

by Joseph Choi and Nathaniel Weixel - 01/18/24 7:36 PM ET

Health Care

The Big Story

Congress passes stopgap to fund HHS, FDA until March

The Senate and House on Thursday advanced legislation to avert a partial government shutdown before a Friday deadline, with funding for key health agencies set through early March.

Under the continuing resolution (CR), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Veterans Affairs are both funded until March 1. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will have funding up until March 8.

The Thursday vote was moved up after votes for Friday were cancelled due to expected snowfall in D.C.

The CR also delays cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments, which were initially scheduled to take place on Jan. 30 but will now happen on March 9.

State Medicaid programs are required by federal law to issue DSH payments to qualifying hospitals that serve a high degree of Medicaid and uninsured patients.

These funds were scheduled to be cut by $8 billion annually beginning in 2024 through to 2027. The cuts were initially called for by the Affordable Care Act but have been continually bumped by Congress.

Funding was also extended through March 8 for child and family welfare programs and for community health centers. Community health center funding was set to expire tomorrow.

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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Essential Reads

How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

Biggs bill tells providers to display ultrasound images to those seeking an abortion

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) introduced legislation Thursday to “ensure” pregnant people receive an ultrasound and are offered a chance to see its images before consenting to an abortion. The legislation says abortion providers “shall” perform an ultrasound, “provide a complete medical description of the ultrasound images” — including size of the embryo and whether there is cardiac activity …

Full Story

Warren says abortion will be on the ballot in 2024

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) predicted Wednesday that this year’s election cycle will be a referendum on abortion, warning of a national abortion ban if Republicans consolidate control of government in 2024. “If the Republicans had the House, the Senate, and the White House, if that happened, I don’t think there’s any doubt they’re going for a nationwide abortion ban,” Warren told MSNBC’s …

Full Story

Sanders plans to subpoena Merck, J&J CEOs on drug pricing

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), announced Thursday he will be holding a vote to issue subpoenas to the CEOs of Johnson & Johnson and Merck for testimonies on drug pricing after they refused requests to appear before the Senate panel. The subpoenas for Johnson & Johnson CEO Joaquin Duato and Merck CEO Robert Davis would have them “provide …

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In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

CDC expands warning about charcuterie meat trays as salmonella cases double

Federal health officials are expanding a warning about salmonella poisoning tied to charcuterie meat snack trays sold at Sam’s Club and Costco stores. At least 47 people in 22 states have been sickened and 10 people have been hospitalized after eating Busseto brand and Fratelli Beretta brand meats, officials with the Centers for …

Full Story

Around the Nation

Local and state headlines on health care:

Missouri advocates launch campaign to restore abortion access in the state (The 19th News)
Maryland’s health insurance marketplace sees record enrollment (WMAR)
State Health Officer Daniel Edney asks Mississippi lawmakers to pay attention to health issues (The Clarion-Ledger)

What We’re Reading

Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Women and minorities bear the brunt of medical misdiagnosis (KFF Health News)
Klobuchar urges drugmakers to remove patents FTC calls improper and inaccurate (Stat)
Data shows nursing home closure often linked to care issues (Roll Call)

What Others are Reading

Most read stories on The Hill right now:

Ex-White House lawyer Ty Cobb weighs in on E. Jean Carroll trial: ‘This is Trump at his worst’

Former White House attorney Ty Cobb is sharply criticizing former President Trump for his courtroom behavior during his defamation trial regarding … Read more

Judge limits new filings in Trump Jan. 6 case but denied bid to hold special counsel in contempt

A federal judge will require special counsel Jack Smith to seek permission before making any additional filings in former President Trump’s case for … Read more