Congress is on recess this week, with a critical deadline to fund the government rapidly approaching next Tuesday. Last week, the House voted 217-212 to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through November 21; however, the Senate voted 47-45 failing to pass a Democratic-led package that would have extended funding through October 31 along with extending health care subsidies and imposing limits on the administration’s ability to claw back Congressionally-appropriated funding.
If lawmakers are unable to pass a CR or broader appropriations before Tuesday night, and thereby force a shutdown, it would include the following impacts:
- Social Security: Existing beneficiaries will not be impacted; payments will continue to be issued. New benefit verification and card issuance would be paused.
- Medicare: Beneficiaries will not be impacted; Medicare coverage will continue uninterrupted.
- Medicaid: Beneficiaries will not be impacted; Medicaid coverage, including for Home and Community Based Services, will continue uninterrupted.
- Veterans Affairs: Beneficiaries will continue to receive benefits; new applications for benefits or appeals may be delayed.
- Public Health: CDC and FDA monitoring activities, including for the flu and other infectious diseases, may be limited.
- U.S. Postal Service: Mail, including parcels such as mail-order medications, will continue to be delivered.
- Small Business Administration: The SBA would need to furlough most staff; it would not be able to process applications for loans and loan guarantees.
Unless there is a significant shift in negotiations, it is likely that the federal government will shutdown next week. Democrats hold leverage in negotiations, with the Senate rules requiring 60 votes to advance the legislation, meaning at least seven Democrats assuming all 53 Republicans vote in favor—and likely more, as Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has indicated he will oppose the funding bill.
For more information on how the shutdown will impact senior living, join us this Wednesday at 2:00 pm ET for our monthly Argentum Advocates member briefing.