Federal Spending for Health and Human Services in 2026 Remains Uncertain

With the deadline looming, it is possible that the federal government will shut down as of January 30, but some positive provisions may be included once an agreement is reached. Specifically, the US Senate passed their spending appropriations which includes a two year extension on clinicians' ability to bill Medicare for telehealth encounters — through December 31, 2027. The Senate also voted to extend the Acute Care at Home program (also known as "hospital at home") through September 2030, and funded a $415M increase in funding across the National Institutes of Health (NIH), rejecting an administration budget that included significant NIH cuts. Funding for federal community health centers, the federal Administration for Community Living, and HIV/AIDS programs was also maintained in the Senate bill.

The Center to Advance Palliative Care and other organizations in the field of palliative care continue to monitor the appropriations process, and will provide updates as the legislation unfolds.