President Trump has signed into law a short-term continuing resolution that funds the federal government and extends certain expiring health care programs through December 20, 2019. With regard to health care programs, the measure (HR 3055) delays a scheduled $4 billion reduction in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital allotments until December 21, 2019 and extends the current 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage for the territories. It also temporarily extends funding for a variety of federal health care programs through December 20. These programs include: Community Health Centers; the National Health Service Corps; the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program; the Special Diabetes Program; the Community Behavioral Health Clinic demonstration program; outreach activities for low-income Medicare beneficiaries; the Health Profession Opportunity Grant demonstration; the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; quality measurement and performance improvement activity contracts; and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.
Additional legislative action – either in the form of another short-term package or an agreement to fund the government through the remainder of fiscal year 2020 – will be necessary in the coming weeks to avert a federal government shutdown.
This article is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.