Congressional leaders reached a "deal in principle" on government spending Wednesday that extends government funding deeper into March and likely includes key health programs.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and the other senior lawmakers who announced the agreement did not provide details on its contents.
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In a news release, the bipartisan, bicameral group said it has agreed on six of 12 appropriations bills to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal 2024 and on short-term extensions while they seek rank-and-file support.
Congress seeks to prevent a partial government shutdown that could begin Friday and another that could commence March 8. There are two deadlines because the current stopgap spending bills split federal funding into two tranches.
The leadership deal would extend the deadlines to March 8 and March 22, respectively. The former includes funding for the Food and Drug Administration while the latter includes appropriations for the rest of the Health and Human Services Department.
“We are in agreement that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to fund our government," the congressional leaders said in a news release.
In addition to Johnson and Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger (R-Texas), House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-Main) issued the joint statement.
"To give the House and Senate appropriations committees adequate time to execute on this deal in principle, including drafting, preparing report language, scoring and other technical matters, and to allow members 72 hours to review, a short-term continuing resolution to fund agencies through March 8 and 22 will be necessary, and voted on by the House and Senate this week," the legislative leaders said.
Healthcare priorities are likely to be included in the spending bills.
Congress is expected to restore $16 billion in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments, at least partially roll back a Medicare pay cut for physicians and extend funding for community health centers in the short-term bills.
Other health policy legislation, including bills to regulate pharmacy benefit managers and institute site-neutral Medicare payments, appears to be off the table for the year.
