New Year, New Congress

Happy New Year!

A lot has happened in the last three weeks, so here’s a high-level recap:

• Congress successfully, albeit rockily, passed a continuing resolution that will fund the government through March 14, 2025. That legislation included bare-bones healthcare provisions that were extended until March 31, 2025, including Medicare telehealth flexibilities, the Acute Hospital Care at Home program, increased inpatient hospital payment adjustment for certain low-volume hospitals, and delaying Medicaid payment cuts to disproportionate share hospitals. The package did not address the 2.83% cut to Medicare physician pay that has now gone into effect.
• The 118th Congress completed its term, and the 119th Congress began its session on January 3.
• Mike Johnson was re-elected as speaker of the House, avoiding a multi-ballot ordeal that his predecessor faced.

Most of the DC area is either closed or working remotely today because of the snow storm. Today, January 6, 2025, is also the constitutionally appointed day for Congress to certify the national election results and confirm President-elect Trump’s second term in office, and that process is proceeding regardless of the weather. The federal government will, however, be closed on Thursday to honor President Jimmy Carter lying in state. The House was already scheduled to be out of session on Friday.

There is no hearing activity planned for the week within the healthcare committees of jurisdiction, but Democrats are expected to announce committee assignments this week. Republicans are also expected to announce a chair of the Rules Committee soon, which will have implications for how all legislative activity is conducted in the House.

Republicans have indicated (with President-elect Trump’s support) that they plan to move forward with a large reconciliation package that will address immigration, energy, tax cuts, and more, and they hope to have the process completed in May. However, early today, President-elect Trump commented that the package could be done in a two-bill approach.

We continue to await scheduling of nominations hearings, which are expected to begin next week, and we continue to monitor the revolving door as new legislative and executive branch staff are announced and others leave or take on new roles.

Today’s Podcast

Debbie Curtis and Rodney Whitlock join Julia Grabo to preview the first full week of the 119th Congress, as members focus on certifying election results, President Jimmy Carter’s funeral proceedings, House Democratic committee assignments, and more. Debbie and Rodney also preview the next few months on Capitol Hill, with the March 14 government funding deadline just nine weeks away.