The Senate September 30 approved 84-10 the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to extend government funding and health extenders through December 11, and surface transportation and flood programs for one year. The action sends the measure to the President, who is expected to sign it and remove the threat of a government shutdown prior to the election.

Specifically, H.R. 8337:

• extends government funding beyond September 30 and through December 11
• extends health extender provisions through December 11
• extends surface transportation programs for one year, through September 30, 2021
• transfers $13.6 billion to the Highway Trust Fund
• extends the National Flood Insurance Program for a year, until September 30, 2021

In addition to the health extenders, the bill delays repayment of the Accelerated and Advanced Medicare payments for one year and makes changes to the recoupment of payments. The bill also delays implementation of the allotment reductions for Medicaid disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) through December 11 and holds the 2021 Part B monthly premium at the 2020 amount for the standard premium, plus 25% of the difference between the 2020 amount and the preliminary monthly actuarial rate for 2021. Health offsets in the bill clarify that drugs and biologicals used for medication-assisted treatment, which must be covered by Medicaid beginning October 1, 2020, will continue to be eligible for rebates under the Medicaid program, and provides increased funding for the Medicaid improvement fund.

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