Buchanan Votes To Fund Critical Government Priorities, Secures Major Health Care Wins

"Americans Deserve Certainty That Their Government Will Work Across Party Lines and Branches of Government to Deliver Real Results."

Legislation Includes Two Buchanan Bills to Advance Patient-first Health Care

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, voted in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 7148), a bipartisan package to fund critical government priorities by strengthening national security, increasing troop pay, supporting American families and modernizing health care while protecting taxpayer dollars.

This package includes two Buchanan health care bills that extend telehealth from home reforms and continues the successful Hospital-at-Home program.

"Americans deserve certainty that their government will work across party lines and branches of government to deliver real results," said Buchanan. "This bipartisan funding package supports critical national priorities from strengthening our national defense to improving access to health care, education and infrastructure. It makes meaningful, lasting improvements that directly benefit working families, seniors and the men and women who serve our country."

"As Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, I'm especially proud that this bill includes two of my health care initiatives that modernize how care is delivered in America. By extending telehealth access and the Hospital-at-Home program, we are giving patients more flexibility, improving outcomes and reducing unnecessary costs. These reforms provide certainty for providers, keep seniors connected to care and move our health system toward smarter, more efficient models that put patients first. I will continue working to advance commonsense, bipartisan solutions that keep Americans healthier, protect taxpayer dollars and ensure our government delivers real results."

The two Buchanan proposals included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act are:

• Permanent Telehealth from Home Act (H.R. 1407): Extends Buchanan's Permanent Telehealth from Home reforms by removing outdated geographic restrictions and expanding originating sites under Medicare, ensuring continued access to telehealth services for seniors through December 31, 2027.
• Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (H.R. 4313): Extends the successful Hospital-at-Home program through September 30, 2030, allowing eligible patients to safely receive hospital-level care at home while improving outcomes and lowering costs.

The legislation also supports Buchanan's forward-looking health agenda by:

• Encouraging early detection and prevention, including expanded coverage pathways for innovative cancer and cognitive screening tools
• Supporting value-based and alternative payment models that reward high-quality, coordinated care
• Promoting the responsible use of wearable medical technologies to empower patients and improve clinical decision-making
• Continuing funding for community health centers and critical health services, particularly in rural and underserved areas
• Strengthening protections for patients while increasing accountability and transparency across the health care system

Beyond health care, the bill funds core government operations, invests in national defense and infrastructure, supports law enforcement and servicemembers and eliminates wasteful programs keeping spending below projected levels under the current continuing resolution.

In addition to being the Vice Chairman and most senior Republican on the powerful U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, Buchanan is also the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, which has broad jurisdiction over traditional Medicare, the Medicare prescription drug benefit program and Medicare Advantage.

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