A stopgap measure to fund the government through the end of September is expected to include provisions to prevent Medicare pay cuts for doctors and extend eased telehealth rules until Sept. 30. These provisions are part of ongoing budget negotiations ahead of the March 14 government shutdown deadline. Speaker Mike Johnson has been advocating for a "clean" resolution that maintains current funding levels, but any new provisions—including healthcare-related ones—could face scrutiny from the narrow House GOP majority.

What This Means for Liver Patients:

Continued Telehealth Access: Liver patients, particularly those requiring frequent specialist consultations, benefit significantly from telehealth. This extension ensures continued access through Sept. 30, which is good news, but long-term uncertainty remains.
Doctor Availability: Preventing Medicare pay cuts helps ensure specialists, including hepatologists and transplant doctors, continue treating Medicare patients. A pay reduction could have led to fewer doctors accepting Medicare, potentially restricting access to care.

Congress is actively negotiating the budget, and Medicaid cuts are still on the table—which could have devastating consequences for liver patients who rely on it for essential care, including treatment for liver disease, access to specialists, transplants, and post-operative medications. Medicaid covers more than one in four liver transplant recipients, making it a lifeline for those with chronic conditions like hepatitis, cirrhosis, and steatotic liver disease. While the continuing resolution (CR) temporarily extends funding, it does not stop lawmakers from pushing for long-term cuts, which means we must act now. Urge your representatives to oppose Medicaid cuts and protect funding for liver patients.

Weekly Healthcare Policy Round-Up