As the year draws to a close, Congress continues work on Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills. The current continuing resolution will only keep the government funded through early next year. At press time, both chambers plan to adjourn for the year on Dec. 15.
Congress also had hoped to tackle several healthcare issues this year such as drug shortages and healthcare price transparency in addition to trying to halt the Medicare provider cuts. While the Senate Finance Committee held a recent hearing on drug shortages, focusing on supply challenges, impacts and policy solutions from a federal health program perspective, Congress was unable to pass a package of additional solutions to address drug shortages this year as intended.
Meanwhile, the House is scheduled to vote on a long-awaited hospital and health insurer price transparency package before adjourning this week; however, the Senate will not have time to take up the package before the end of the year. Congress will face an extremely busy agenda heading into an election year which typically results in few significant accomplishments.
