The U.S. House of Representatives voted 339-85 on March 6 to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 4366), which finalizes fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding levels for six spending bills, including the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill, and averts a partial government shutdown. Congress had previously passed a continuing resolution delaying the deadline for these spending bills to March 8, while continuing FY 2023 funding for the remaining spending bills, including the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Defense bills, until March 22 [refer to Washington Highlights, March 1].
The spending package also includes several key health care and public health extenders, including the elimination of scheduled reductions to the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital program through Dec. 31, 2024, and a partial mitigation of cuts to the Physician Fee Schedule. Additionally, the bill extends funding for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program, the National Health Service Corps, and the Community Health Center Fund through the end of the calendar year. Notably, the legislation does not include AAMC-opposed cuts to Medicare reimbursement for drug administration services in off-campus hospital outpatient departments [refer to Washington Highlights, Jan. 12].
The package is now being considered in the Senate, which is expected to approve the measure in advance of the March 8 deadline.