Ranking Member Cassidy Highlights $4.27B for CHCs, Medicare Reimbursement Fix, Other Provisions Secured in March 8 Government Funding Bill
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and member of the Senate Finance Committee, released a statement highlighting several provisions secured in the March 8th government funding bill. The legislation includes a responsible $270 million increase in annual funding to $4.27 billion for community health centers (CHCs), backdated to the beginning of fiscal year (FY) 2024. This funding increase is fully offset and includes Hyde Amendment protections, criteria Cassidy identified as critical to his support of a responsible funding increase. The legislation also increases the statutory 1.25 percent Medicare Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor adjustment to 2.93 percent, which increases physician reimbursements under Medicare.
“Last year, my goals as HELP Ranking Member were to reauthorize funding for community health centers on time, in a manner that is paid for, and that preserves Hyde protections. Since Congress was unable to achieve a long-term reauthorization before the end of last fiscal year, this legislation backdates funding to provide CHCs with a total of $4.27 billion for FY2024 and funds CHCs at that level through December 2024. It is Hyde-protected with an increase that is fully paid for,” said Dr. Cassidy. “As a doctor, I am also proud we were able to secure an increase in Medicare reimbursements for physicians. This was essential to ensure our seniors are able to access the best care and doctors possible.”
In July of 2023, Cassidy originally introduced the Community Health Care Reauthorization Act in an attempt to prevent a lapse in mandatory funding for CHCs which expired on September 30th of that year. Cassidy’s legislation proposed $4.2 billion in annual funding for CHCs.
Other provisions included in the recently released legislative text include:
- Extension for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) through December 31, 2024 at an annual rate of $345 million per year, a $35 million increase from current funding levels. Cassidy has previously proposed funding the NHSC at $350 million annually.
- Extension for the Special Diabetes Program for Type 1 Diabetes and Special Diabetes Programs for Indians through December 31, 2024 at an annual rate of approximately $160 million per year, a roughly $10 million increase from current funding levels This is the first funding increase for the Special Diabetes Programs since FY 2004.
- Extension for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program through December 31, 2024 at an annual rate of $175 million, a $48.5 million increase from current funding levels. Cassidy has previously proposed funding THCGME at $175 million in Fiscal Year 2024.
- Extension of several authorities critical to national health security through December 31, 2024.
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