Congress Extends Key Hospital Priorities in Latest Spending Bill

February 05, 2026

The federal government’s partial shutdown is over, after the House this week approved a $1.2-trillion appropriations bill that extends key hospital priorities.

The House approved the measure by a 217–214, and it was signed by President Trump on Tuesday. The final vote comes after the President and Senate Democrats agreed to advance a five-bill, full-year spending package. It also provides two additional weeks to address concerns around Department of Homeland Security funding and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

The appropriations package includes several important provisions for the hospital community:

• Extending the acute hospital care at home waivers through September 2030.
• Averting cuts to the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital program until 2028.
• Extending telehealth flexibilities through 2027.
• Extending the Medicare-Dependent Hospital program and the enhanced Low-Volume Hospital adjustment through 2026.
• Reauthorizing the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Program.
• Streamlining enrollment process for eligible out-of-state providers under Medicaid and CHIP.

HAP will continue to call for support to protect hospital stability and access to care. For additional information, contact John Myers, vice president, federal advocacy.