Government Spending Bill Averts Shutdown, Leaves Out Some Healthcare Provisions
Telehealth and Hospital Care at Home Get Short-Term Extensions
President Joe Biden signed a spending bill on Saturday that averts a government shutdown, but some healthcare provisions that were in the original bill did not make it to final passage. Acute hospital-care-at-home and telehealth temporary waivers were continued, but were not given the long-term extensions that were included in a Dec. 18 bipartisan resolution. Both received short-term extensions until March 31, when the government spending legislation expires.
Original Bill Extended Telehealth and Hospital Care at Home
The original bill extended telehealth for two years and acute hospital care at home by five years. However, the American Telemedicine Association’s Kyle Zebley said he expected a "clean sweep win" for telehealth, but when Congress needed to draft a new last-minute plan, that changed as legislators wanted a bill that was shorter, simpler, and cleaner.
Congress Expected to Take Up Comprehensive Measures Next Year
Congress is expected to do more comprehensive measures next year under a new president when the current spending plan expires on March 31, 2025. Zebley said there’s hope that measures such as first-dollar coverage of telehealth for those who have high-deductible plans and a diabetes prevention program that used technology for lifestyle changes to prevent people from getting Type II diabetes who were on the cusp of getting the disease will be brought back next year and made retroactive.
Medicare Payment Cut to Physicians Stripped from Bill
Stripped out of the bill is a provision to prevent the Medicare pay cut to physicians. This means physicians will get a 2.8% Medicare payment cut on January 1, 2025. The American Medical Association said Congress failed patients and physicians, and that the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission recommended a permanent, inflation-based update, but Congress did not do that.
Other Programs Left Out of the Bill
Other programs advocated by the American Telemedicine Association that were left out of the bill include prior authorization reform, which had bipartisan support, and new regulations that would have targeted pharmacy benefit managers. Patients For Affordable Drugs Now expressed deep disappointment and frustration over the failure to include key drug-pricing reforms in the end-of-year continuing resolution, despite strong bipartisan support.
The Larger Trend
The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a stopgap bill on Friday to keep the government funded until March 14, 2025. The bill includes $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in economic aid for farmers, but not the debt limit extension as requested by President-elect Trump.
Conclusion
The government spending bill averts a shutdown, but leaves out some healthcare provisions. Telehealth and hospital care at home received short-term extensions, but other programs advocated by the American Telemedicine Association were left out. The bill also stripped out a provision to prevent the Medicare pay cut to physicians. Congress is expected to take up comprehensive measures next year under a new president.
FAQs
Q: What healthcare provisions were left out of the bill?
A: Acute hospital-care-at-home and telehealth temporary waivers received short-term extensions until March 31, 2025, but other programs advocated by the American Telemedicine Association, such as prior authorization reform and new regulations targeting pharmacy benefit managers, were left out.
Q: What is the impact of the Medicare payment cut to physicians?
A: The 2.8% Medicare payment cut to physicians on January 1, 2025, is equivalent to a 6.4% payment cut when medical practice inflation is factored in.
Q: What is the next step for comprehensive healthcare measures?
A: Congress is expected to take up comprehensive measures next year under a new president when the current spending plan expires on March 31, 2025.
