The Senate passed a spending package to fund the federal government through Jan. 30, The Wall Street Journal reported Nov. 10.
Here are five things to know:
1. The spending package, which passed in a 60-40 vote, would fund the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs through the full fiscal year. All other departments, including HHS, would be funded through the end of January.
2. The spending agreement would allow the Senate to vote in December on legislation extending the enhanced ACA subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025. It would also deliver back pay to federal employees and reverse layoffs of federal workers made during the shutdown.
3. The agreement would likely reimburse healthcare providers for Medicare telehealth visits that haven’t been paid during the stoppage, InsideHealthPolicy reported Nov. 10. Telehealth claims would be paid retroactive to Oct. 1, and claims reimbursed at a lower rate because of geographic rule changes would likely be reprocessed.
4. The package now moves to the House of Representatives, who could vote as soon as Nov. 12, according to the Journal.
5. The deal would also fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through fiscal 2026, CNN reported Nov. 10. SNAP benefits expired Nov. 1 and have been subject to a legal fight regarding short-term funding. On Nov. 9, a federal appeals court denied the Trump administration’s bid to avoid fully funding the program through November, The Wall Street Journal reported Nov. 10. The ruling means the government will have to make the payments within 48 hours unless the Supreme Court intervenes. Amid funding uncertainty for the program, many health systems have pledged donations to local food banks.
This story was updated at 8:16 a.m. Nov. 11 to reflect that the Senate passed the spending package.
