On Sept. 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a spending bill totaling $854 billion in an effort to avoid a looming government shutdown. The bill, HR 6157, passed the House through an overwhelming, bi-partisan majority vote of 361-61. With the Senate passing an identical bill a week prior, the spending bill heads to the desk of President Donald Trump for his anticipated approval.

The spending bill fully funds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) along with defense, labor, and education, and extends the deadline to fund the remainder of the federal government until December 2018.

In total, HHS will receive $180 billion in funds, which will be used to increase NIH funding by $2 billion to $39.1 billion, raise funding for Pell Grants, and combat the nation’s pressing opioid epidemic.

Previously, the fate of the spending bill was held in doubt. However, by tying HHS funding to defense spending, both chambers were able to find common ground to support the bill’s passing, and Speaker Paul Ryan expressed confidence that the bill will receive presidential approval.

For further discussion on health care spending, please contact AASM advocacy staff by email at policy@aasm.org or by phone at (630) 737-9700.