Congress Has Full Agenda Heading Into December - November 29, 2011

While the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (or, super committee) has ended its deliberations, Congress has a full agenda for the remainder of 2011. Congress will be in session for the next 3 weeks, with plans to begin its recess on Dec. 16. Nine appropriations bills remain unfinished – including the bill funding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While some say these outstanding bills may be packaged into one, large omnibus bill, there is concern that time constraints and unpopular riders included in the bill could stall the process. Congress must also fix the broken sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula to stop a massive Medicare payment reduction to physicians in 2012. NAPH is advocating that Congress fix the SGR while protecting Medicaid and other hospital payments, particularly provider taxes. In addition, a number of tax breaks, such as the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance, are set to expire at the end of this year. Congress has limited time to resolve the controversy surrounding these tax breaks and an additional 60 tax provisions before they expire. Finally, on Dec. 16, the temporary spending measure that finances the federal government’s day-to-day operations will expire, and Congress will have to negotiate an extension or risk a government shutdown.

NAPH will continue to monitor the activities on Capitol Hill and update members regularly. NAPH is also working on messaging to ensure that Medicaid, provider taxes, and other hospital payments are protected while the SGR fix is debated. Look to the NAPH website for additional updates.