On Jan. 18, the Senate passed another continuing resolution (CR, H.R. 2872) by a vote of 77-18, followed by the House passage of the bill by a vote of 314-108. The CR will keep federal agencies operational past the Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 funding expiration deadlines and allow lawmakers additional time to approve fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding. President Biden signed the measure on Jan. 19.
The CR extends FY 2023 funding for four annual spending bills, including the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill, through March 1 and through March 8 for the other eight spending bills, including the Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education and Defense bills. The measure also delays scheduled cuts to the Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) program until March 9; continues mandatory appropriations for the National Health Service Corps, Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education program, and Community Health Centers through March 8; and extends authorizations for some of the pandemic preparedness programs.
The AAMC continues to encourage Congress to promptly finish the FY 2024 appropriations process. The AAMC sent a Jan. 11 letter urging congressional leadership to enact robust FY 2024 appropriations for key science, health workforce, and public health programs; avoid problematic policy provisions; extend funding and authorizations for workforce and preparedness programs; and reject cuts to Medicare reimbursement for drug administration services in off-campus hospital outpatient departments (HOPD) [refer to Washington Highlights, Jan. 12].