Democrats’ Health Victories In Stopgap Bill Come At A Cost — Namely ACA’s Preventive Care Fund
Lawmakers are getting close to a deal to fund the government that includes several health care wins for Democrats, such as extending funding for community health clinics. But the proposals to pay for the new policies take some of the wind out of those victories.
The Washington Post:
Senate Leaders See Two-Year Budget Deal Within Their Grasp
Top Senate leaders were working Tuesday to finalize a sweeping long-term budget deal that would include a defense spending boost President Trump has long demanded alongside an increase in domestic programs championed by Democrats. (DeBonis and Werner, 2/6)
The Associated Press:
House And Senate Pursue Spending Deals As Shutdown Looms
Democratic leaders have dropped their strategy of using the funding fight to extract concessions on immigration, specifically on seeking extended protections for the "Dreamer" immigrants who have lived in the country illegally since they were children. Instead, the Democrats prepared to cut a deal that would reap tens of billions of dollars for other priorities — including combatting opioids — while taking their chances on solving the immigration impasse later. Tuesday night's 245-182 House vote, mostly along party lines, set the machinery in motion. (Taylor, 2/7)
Modern Healthcare:
Senate Eyes Changes To The House Stopgap Health Package
The sizeable healthcare package unveiled Monday night by House GOP leaders may get a face lift in the Senate. The House assembled a packet of legislation that includes two-year funding of the community health centers, a two-year delay of the payment cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospitals, and two-year funding extensions for Medicare programs rural hospitals in particular depend on. The CHRONIC Care Act, which would, among other things, expand telemedicine and adapt Medicare Advantage plans for chronically ill enrollees, is also included. But all the programs came at a cost House Democrats don't like, most notably a $5 million chunk out of the Affordable Care Act's Prevention and Public Health Fund. (Luthi, 2/6)
The Hill:
Senate Nears Two-Year Deal On Spending
“I’m optimistic that very soon we’ll be able to reach an agreement,” McConnell told reporters, predicting that another shutdown this week is very unlikely. (Bolton and Zanoma, 2/7)
CQ:
Lobbyists Monitor Health Care Provisions In Spending Bill
Community health center officials, safety-net hospital administrators and others say they are relieved that the stopgap spending bill released Monday night would keep money flowing to their institutions. But the proposals to pay for the new policies could be controversial and the underlying bill is mired in a broader partisan dispute. House Republicans hope to check several items off of Congress’ health policy to-do list this week as part of the proposed six-week stopgap spending bill. The continuing resolution filed Monday night by Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., would provide $3.6 billion for community health centers for each of the next two years and extend certain expired Medicare programs. (McIntire, 2/6)
The Hill:
House Funding Bill Includes Bipartisan Medicare Reforms
The House’s short-term bill to fund the government also includes a range of bipartisan Medicare reforms aimed at making the program more efficient and saving money over the long term. The measure, known as the Chronic Care Act, has largely flown under the radar because it has been mainly free of political controversy. (Sullivan, 2/6)
The Hill:
House Bill Cuts ObamaCare Public Health Fund By $2.85 Billion
The House’s short-term bill to fund the government cuts $2.85 billion over 10 years from an ObamaCare public health fund, using the money to help pay for a range of health-care programs. The cut is drawing criticism from public health groups who warn that it will harm work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in areas like vaccination and anti-smoking. (Sullivan, 2/6)
Pioneer Press:
Mark Dayton Pushes For MN Community Health Center Funding
Gov. Mark Dayton wants Minnesota’s congressional delegation to fight for the renewal of funding for health centers that serve rural communities and the poor. In September, the $3.6 billion fund that supports Community Health Centers across the nation expired and Congress has not reauthorized it. That could mean 70 centers that serve 180,000 Minnesotans will lose out on $27 million in funding this year. (Magan, 2/6)
St. Louis Post Dispatch:
Community Health Centers Across Missouri Brace For Shortfall While Waiting For Federal Money
Funding uncertainty at both the state and federal levels has created significant worry for community health centers in Missouri. One of Missouri’s largest community health centers has cut staff and services as it waits for Congress to reauthorize funding for the more than 9,200 sites across the country that care for more than 24 million people. “We’ve vacated five positions, and I anticipate a few additional positions, through the end of March, to respond to these funding challenges,” Alan Freeman, CEO of Affinia Healthcare, told the Post-Dispatch. Threats to state Medicaid funding are also fueling these decisions to cut services and staff, Freeman said. (Liss, 2/6)
