Senate fails to pass CR, government shutdown begins while some health programs expire 

A second Senate vote on the House-passed continuing resolution to fund the federal government failed to pass Sept. 30 by a 55-45 vote, leading to a federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Angus King, I-Maine, sided with Republicans in favor of the bill, while Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., voted against it with most Democrats. The bill would have funded the federal government through Nov. 21. A second vote on a short-term funding bill led by Senate Democrats also failed again by a 47-53 vote along party lines. Sixty votes are needed to pass the spending bill. Additional votes on the CR are expected today and throughout the weekend, if necessary. 

The House-passed CR would have extended key health care programs that expired yesterday, including the Medicare-dependent hospital and low-volume adjustment programs, telehealth and hospital-at-home flexibilities, and the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act. It also would have delayed Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital cuts that became effective Oct. 1.

The AHA will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available.