Valued Voice

On September 16, House Republicans unveiled legislative text for a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through November 21, 2025 with extensions for key health care priorities including:

• Telehealth
• The Hospital at Home Program
• Medicare Dependent and Low Volume Hospitals

Importantly, the package also does not ask for any cuts to health care programs to fund these priorities.

As covered in last week's edition of the Valued Voice, WHA was recently in Washington, DC advocating for Wisconsin's Congressional Delegation to support these priorities and help avoid a government shutdown that would put these programs at risk, something that would happen if a bill is not signed into law by September 30.

WHA sent out a HEAT alert on September 17 to its grassroots network urging hospital leaders to contact their federal lawmakers to express the importance of funding these programs and avoiding a government shutdown.

It is currently unclear if the House or Senate have enough votes to pass this legislation, but lawmakers are continuing to negotiate. House GOP leadership has said it will vote on the legislation by the end of the week, and the Senate has said it likewise intends to take it up. Democrats have expressed opposition at the fact the CR does not include funding for the enhanced premium tax credits that expire at the end of the year. Republican leaders have signaled a willingness to consider that issue at a later date, but have maintained they will not be addressing it in the current CR.

WHA has been advocating for a fix for this issue, whether it be in the current CR or a subsequent funding package. The enhanced premium tax credits have led to more than 70,000 Wisconsinites gaining coverage on the federal exchange since they became available in 2021, and their expiration could lead to a subsidy cliff among Wisconsinites nearing retirement age. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a 60-year-old Wisconsin couple making $82,000 annually could see their premiums for a silver benchmark plan spike by $15,000 - $23,000 annually if the enhanced credits expire. WHA has warned lawmakers that hospitals are likely to see a noticeable increase in uncompensated care if the expiration of these enhanced credits leads to Wisconsinites losing health insurance coverage.

WHA is continuing to closely follow and advocate for these priorities. Please contact WHA's VP Federal and State Relations Jon Hoelter with questions.