Final Funding Extension Excludes Training, Health Care Changes

Early on December 21, 2024, President Biden signed into law legislation extending current government spending levels until March 14, 2025, avoiding a government shutdown, but excluding several HRPA-supported provisions.

The eleventh-hour funding deal came after turmoil in the Republican ranks scuttled a much larger bipartisan bill Wednesday, and a straight funding extension that included an increase in the debt limit sought be President-elect Trump failed in the House Thursday night.

Left out: The final bill excluded the debt ceiling increase and the following HRPA-supported elements:

•  Job training reauthorization. The long awaited bill reauthorizing the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act has been a priority for employers as well as lawmakers.
  
  
• PBM reform. Reforms required pharmacy benefit managers to pass through 100% of rebates to employers and provide detailed data on prescription drug costs to employers and the federal government.
  
  
• Extension of HDHP coverage of telehealth. Provisions would extend through 2026 allowing high-deductible health plans to cover patients’ telehealth visits before they hit their deductible.

Included Provisions: The funding bill, which passed the House 366-34 and the Senate, 85-11, included disaster relief and an extension of agricultural programs.

What’s next: The new Congress starts on January 4, and is expected to consider the excluded provisions discussed above. With the current funding deal expiring on March 15, Congress will also need to revisit appropriations for the rest of FY 2025.