Senate Leaders Announce Budget Deal

Senate leaders today announced an agreement on a deal that would raise spending caps on military and domestic programs over the next two years. In addition, the deal would fund the government through March 23 to allow appropriators time to complete their work. According to news reports, the deal would raise defense and domestic spending by about $300 billion over two years and includes about $90 billion in disaster relief funding for areas hard hit last year by hurricanes and wildfires. Legislative language for the sweeping budget agreement has not been released publicly yet, but the package also includes many health care provisions. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer this afternoon on the Senate floor said the deal includes funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program for an additional four years on top of the six years included in the last continuing resolution and $6 billion for the opioid crisis and mental health. Among other items, the package also is expected to include relief from Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 and extend several Medicare payment adjustments that support access in rural communities. Federal funding is set to expire on Feb. 8 without congressional action.