The latest government funding proposal being assembled by GOP leaders likely will include some must-pass short-term extensions of health policies, even as the legislation drops much of the bipartisan health package negotiated earlier this week.
Incoming House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) told reporters the same extenders that were in the bill that failed on the floor Thursday night were part of House GOP leaders’ plans for Friday.
That includes extending Medicare telehealth flexibilities until March, as well as funding for community health centers.
Guthrie lamented that bigger policies, like reforms to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry, will not be included.
“It’s a shame we’re not going to be able to do a bigger health care [package],” Guthrie said. “PBM reform, there’s a lot of really good stuff there, but I understand leadership had to make some tough decisions. And it’s disappointing.”
The bill no longer reauthorizes the opioid-fighting SUPPORT Act or the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act. The pandemic legislation had historically been bipartisan, but its inclusion in the spending bill sparked a wave of online misinformation amplified by Elon Musk.
Republicans also jettisoned a Medicare physician payment boost and a hospital billing transparency measure that were included in the original health package.
Guthrie said he didn’t blame leadership and would “absolutely” work on a stand-alone health bill next year.
Emily Brooks contributed.
