The Latest In DC - Week of June 9
Mo Sullivan, Government Affairs Associate, NARHC
Capitol Hill and the agencies have been quite busy lately! Please read the latest updates below and check out our Community Forum for future updates.
In Case You Missed It
Introduced this week, the Registered Nurses (RNs) for Rural Health Act (H.R.3878) would allow RNs at RHCs to conduct Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) and receive reimbursement from Medicare. To learn more, read our article linked here. To urge your Representatives to cosponsor this bill, click here.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released additional details on its proposed FY2026 budget, which includes cuts to several integral rural health programs. To learn more, read our article linked here. To remind Congress that these programs are vital to rural communities and urge your legislators to prevent these cuts, click here.
Furthermore, the Save America's Rural Hospitals Act (H.R.3684) was introduced. This bill is predominantly hospital focused, but would make Medicare telehealth services permanent for RHCs and includes a fix to the reimbursement and coding policies under the “Special Payment Rule.” NARHC supports this legislation.
Budget Reconciliation
The Senate continues to negotiate the budget reconciliation bill, i.e. the "One Big Beautiful Bill," recently sent over after passing the House. According to new estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), over 10 million people would become uninsured if the House version of the bill is enacted, and another approximately 5 million individuals would lose coverage if the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies are not extended by the end of 2025. Please join us in urging Senators to protect Medicare and Medicaid by messaging them here.
Federal Agencies
On Monday afternoon, HHS Secretary Kennedy announced the removal of all 17 sitting members on the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). 13 of these members were nominated by the Biden administration just last year. Just 2 days after this announcement, Secretary Kennedy named 8 new members to ACIP, including well-known vaccine skeptics and critics of COVID-19 policies throughout the pandemic.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director, Jay Bhattacharya, testified this week before the Senate Appropriations Committee to defend the agency’s reorganization and FY26 budget plan for HHS. Senators from both parties questioned him about the research cuts and employee terminations at NIH.
Last week, Drew Snyder, Director and Deputy Administrator for the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, resigned from his position. Dr. Caprice Knapp, former North Dakota Medicaid Director, will serve as interim acting director for now. Additionally, the Senate confirmed Jim O’Neill to be the new Deputy Secretary of HHS.
Other Interesting Health News
On Tuesday, Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Wyden released a congressional report examining 17 Organ Procurement Organizations. Th report found a federal loophole allowing these organizations to boost performance ratings as well as inconsistency amongst conflict-of-interest frameworks.
Last week, CMS rescinded the July 2022 guidance that assured health care providers federal protection when performing abortions in emergency cases, regardless of state bans on the procedure. However, CMS will continue to enforce the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which protects pregnant patients seeking medical assistance at emergency departments.
For future Advocacy Updates, we encourage folks to turn to NARHC's Discussion Forum.
As always, please let us know if you have any questions by emailing NARHC’s Washington, D.C. team.
Thank you!
