Summary
Wynne Health Group has prepared an Issue Brief summarizing the Health and Human Services provisions of the bipartisan budget deal that extends government funding until March 23 and raises budget caps for two years, allowing the omnibus appropriations process to proceed.
Early on Friday, February 9, the House passed the legislation 240-186 several hours after the Senate voting 71-28 to approve it, despite a very brief intervening shutdown that arose from Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-KY) objections to the spending impacts of the legislation and stymied Senate leaders’ attempts to move swiftly to the bill. President Trump signed the legislation later that morning.
In our Issue Brief, we provide a summary of the significant healthcare provisions within Division E of bill, known as the Advancing Chronic Care, Extenders, and Social Services (ACCESS) Act.
These provisions include community health center funding and two-year Medicaid DSH cut delay, as well as repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s Independent Payment Advisory Board and four additional years of Children’s Health Insurance Program funding, among numerous other provisions of interest. Offsets are delineated, including closing the donut hole a year early by raising brand manufacturer rebates to 70 percent in 2019 and addressing cross-walking of Medicare Advantage Star ratings.