
There’s now a chance for bipartisan health care policies, but partisan tensions are running high
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There’s now a chance for bipartisan health care policies, but partisan tensions are running high
Congress typically uses annual appropriations bills to renew many health care programs. Well over a dozen expire or run out of cash after Sept. 30. These include a popular Medicare program that makes telehealth services widely available.
WASHINGTON — Republicans’ first major policy bill this year was a partisan affair: They cut Medicaid funding by some $1 trillion to help fund tax cuts prized by President Trump.
Now, though, there are some bipartisan health care policies, from pharmacy-benefit manager reform to Medicare doctor payment changes, that the two parties could work on — and many health care programs with bipartisan support that are set to expire this year if lawmakers don’t act.
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Congress typically uses annual appropriations bills to renew many health care programs and policies in Medicare and Medicaid, collectively called health care extenders. Well over a dozen expire or run out of cash after Sept. 30, including a popular Medicare program that makes telehealth services widely available, and funding for community health centers, hospitals that care for large numbers of uninsured, and certain pandemic preparedness activities.