Summary
Today, President Biden is slated to release his fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget request, officially kicking off the appropriations process for the next fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2022. Throughout the week, committees in both chambers will hold hearings on various health policy priorities, including universal health coverage, behavioral health care, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) user fees, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
On Thursday, the moratorium on the 2 percent Medicare sequester will expire. Congressional action extending the moratorium appears unlikely. As required by the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act (P.L. 117-71), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will phase in reductions to Medicare fee-for-service payments – starting with a 1 percent payment adjustment April 1–June 30, 2022, followed by a 2 percent payment adjustment beginning July 1, 2022.