House Republicans late in the afternoon of December 19 released the “American Relief Act of 2025,” their newest offer for an end of year package.
On the health care side, the package eliminates any new policies added by the version offered December 17 and drops reauthorizations that were included in the December 17 version, including beneficial Medicaid policies, an increase in Part B payments, and the reauthorizations of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Older Americans Act (OAA).
Programs that needed to be extended, including the Medicare telehealth flexibilities, the Acute Hospital at Home Waiver, and funding for Medicare counseling and assistance programs among others, are included in the new December 19 package and are extended through March 31, 2025.
The December 19 package extends funding for annually appropriated programs at fiscal year 2024 levels until March 14, the same extension as was included in the December 17 version. This provides funding for programs like HUD’s affordable housing programs.
Democrats have not agreed to the December 19 version and Democratic votes will be likely needed to pass this package. The outlook is still very unclear for funding the government and for these extenders.
Follow the negotiations via our Updates: Year-End Funding and Policy Negotiations; Agency Contingency Plans serial post.
