Congress Fails to Pass Short-Term Funding Bills with Key Health Extenders

The House of Representatives on Sept. 19 passed the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 (H.R. 5371) by a vote of 217-212 to extend federal funding beyond the Sept. 30 end of the current fiscal year. The short-term funding bill would maintain current funding levels temporarily through Nov. 21 while negotiations on annual appropriations continue and includes several key health-related provisions. A section-by-section summary (PDF) was issued by the House Appropriations Committee ahead of the vote. Following House-passage, the Senate voted 48-44 to reject the House-passed continuing resolution and 47-45 to reject a Senate Democratic-led stopgap.

The House-passed package would include a limited extension of key COVID-era telehealth flexibilities and the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program. The bill would delay scheduled cuts to the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital program through Nov. 21, which was requested by over 140 bipartisan members of Congress in a recent letter to congressional leadership [refer to related story]. The measure would also temporarily reauthorize several key health care workforce programs - including the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program, the National Health Service Corps, and the Community Health Center Fund to support federally qualified health centers - through Nov. 21. Additionally, the bill would continue select emergency preparedness and response authorities. The bill notably omits an extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits (EPTCs), which are due to expire at the end of the year.

The Senate Democratic alternative stopgap proposal, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026 (S.2882), would include similar health care extenders, along with a repeal of the health care provisions included in the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21), an extension of the EPTCs, and provisions aimed at limiting the administration's authority to rescind previously appropriated funds.

Lawmakers must pass a stopgap before Oct. 1 to avoid a government shutdown.