House CR Extends Medicare Telehealth, Omits Expected Provider Fix

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a seven-month continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown. The CR will fund government operations through the remainder of the fiscal year (September 30) and will slash non-defense spending by roughly $13 billion and increase defense spending by about $6 billion over current budgets. The CR will also extend telehealth rules in Medicare that were eased during the pandemic through September 30, though it stops short of permanent or longer-term extension. However, it does not include the provider fix that many were expecting it to contain. The doctors caucus in the House of Representatives was given assurances that the provider fix would be in the reconciliation bill that the Republicans hope to pass before Memorial Day.

The House adjourned for the rest of the week, and now the Senate must pass this bill to keep the government from shutting down by Friday at midnight.

The Academy will continue to work with influencers and our champions in Congress to push for the provider fix and our Medicare Audiology Access Improvement Act legislation.