The three-day government shutdown came to an end last Monday when the Senate voted 81 to 18, and the House 266 to 150, for a continuing resolution federal spending package.
The agreement includes funds for a six-year reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, as well as a delay of two years on the tax of high cost insurance plans, health insurers, and medical devices. The continuing resolution package did not include reauthorization for community health centers, a delay in the scheduled Medicaid DSH cuts, nor extension of several expired Medicare small and rural payment programs like the ground ambulance add-on, Medicare Dependent Hospital, and Low-Volume adjustment.
The federal spending component of the resolution is only extended through February 8 when Congress will need to take up a fifth spending package for the remainder of FY18. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey voted no; Representative Bill Keating and Stephen Lynch voted yes, while Reps. Mike Capuano, Katherine Clark, Joe Kennedy, Jim McGovern, Seth Moulton, Richard Neal, and Niki Tsongas voted no.