In Congress, year-end spending bills with multiple priorities attached are known as “Christmas tree” bills. This year’s health care policy provisions in the spending bill are lacking significant progress. Despite funding for public health programs and telehealth extensions surviving, Congress failed to achieve any new health care goals. Efforts to regulate pharmacy benefit managers and address legal tactics by pharmaceutical companies also fell short. Doctors will see lower Medicare pay, while provisions to prevent pandemics and address the opioid crisis expired. Hospitals fared better with subsidy extensions, but many smaller provisions were cut. There is hope for future revival of some provisions, particularly related to pharmacy benefit managers.
Source link
House passes spending bill without major health provisions
