On the Hill: Possibility of Another Government Shutdown Looms

Congress is back in Washington with no shortage of items on their to-do list.

There will be a vote Jan. 8 in the House on Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' discharge petition forcing consideration of a three-year extension of the enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs). House Republican leadership will be applying pressure to their conference to vote against the bill. However, given moderate Republicans' support of the discharge petition, it is likely to pass the House and fail in the Senate. The subsidies expired Dec. 31, increasing health insurance premiums for millions of Americans.

Also on the horizon, absent congressional action on a fiscal year 2026 funding agreement or passage of another continuing resolution, a partial government shutdown is now less than 30 days away. The delay of Medicaid DSH cuts, expansion of Medicare telehealth flexibilities, and the Hospital-at-Home program are all tied up in the government funding package and are of concern to America's Essential Hospitals.

340B Drug Pricing Program Update

Our advocacy team continues to actively champion the value of the 340B Drug Pricing Program on Capitol Hill. A Maine federal district judge in late December temporarily blocked implementation of the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) 340B rebate model pilot program, which had been scheduled to take effect on January 1. The court cited the immediacy of the issue and the risk of irreparable harm to covered entities, allowing the longstanding upfront discount model to remain in place on an interim basis.

Committee Activity This Week

The Senate returned to session Jan. 5 and the House returned Jan. 6.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing, titled, "Legislative Proposals to Support Patient Access to Medicare Services," on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 10:15 am ET. The legislative hearing is focused on the following bills:

• H.R. 1703, Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025, Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.)
• H.R. 2005, DMEPOS Relief Act of 2025, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa)
• H.R. 2172, Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.)
• H.R. 2477, Portable Ultrasound Reimbursement Equity Act of 2025, Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas)
• H.R. 2902, Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform (SOAR) Act of 2025, Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.)
• H.R. 5243, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase data transparency for supplemental benefits under Medicare Advantage, Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.)
• H.R. 5269, Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services (RESULTS) Act of 2025, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.)
• H.R. 5347, Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.)
• H.R. 6210, Senior Savings Protection Act, Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.)
• H.R. 6361, Ban AI Denials in Medicare Act, Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio)

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