Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
House Republicans unveiled a CR on Saturday that includes an extension of expiring health programs plus telehealth flexibilities. But there is no Medicare physician pay relief.
Why it matters: Stopgap funding bills are always vehicles for health policy legislation. This one kept the practice to a minimum, putting off several more significant health reforms.
Driving the news: The CR extends funding through Sept. 30, along with priorities like community health center funding and pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities.
- Doctors had been pushing to add relief for a Medicare pay cut that took effect on Jan. 1, but it appears that was too heavy a lift for leadership looking to keep health add-ons at a minimum.
- A larger health package that was dropped from the year-end health deal and included items like PBM legislation also remains on hold.
Yes, but: Democrats blasted the latest CR, with House Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro saying it would "hand a blank check to Elon Musk."
