Republicans on Capitol Hill have sent a preliminary offer to Democrats for numerous health care policies to be tacked onto the continuing resolution that lawmakers are moving to complete before the Dec. 20 deadline to avert a government shutdown.
The bicameral Republican offer includes a three-year extension of Medicare’s telehealth and hospital-at-home programs. It would also extend traditional Medicare and Medicaid provisions by one year.
A one-year physician payment adjustment of 2.5 percent, flat funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers and full reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act and the SUPPORT Act are also included.
To offset this spending, Republicans have proposed the full repeal of the Biden administration’s nursing home staffing rule, as well as delinking pharmacy benefit manager transparency provisions from Medicare Part D.
Axios was first to report on the proposed health care package.
This is considered to be an opening round of talks on health care provisions. While Republicans are well aware Democrats won’t go for a full repeal of the nursing home staffing rule, they argue it will eventually be rescinded under the GOP-controlled federal government next year anyway.
Inquiries to Republican and Democratic leaders on health and appropriations committees in both the House and Senate were not immediately responded to.