(Feb. 8, 2024) - Congress’ budget deadlines are approaching, and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are busy drafting their respective bills. Both chambers are working to move forward their versions of the supplemental appropriations for the wars in Ukraine and Israel and changes in border security policy. This fight has overshadowed work on annual bills. The next couple of weeks will see an increased focus on getting the fiscal year 2024 bills worked, paving the way for work on fiscal year 2025. President Joe Biden has already indicated his intention to transmit his FY 2025 budget to Congress on Mar. 11.
Kansas Hospital Association staff are working with the Kansas delegation on bills to draft and introduce. Congressman Tracey Mann is reaching out to KHA about becoming a lead sponsor of the House version of S.2733, the PEER Support Act. This bill would codify the Office of Recovery in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, direct Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice to study background checks and potential barriers to a peer support profession for otherwise qualified individuals. The legislation also would direct the Office of Management and Budget to revise the Standard Occupational Classification to recognize peer support as a profession. As part of this process, KHA’s Committee on Public Advocacy discussed the bill and, through staff, recommended care be taken to ensure no additional burdens are placed on hospitals for administering the program.
Next week, KHA members will travel to Washington, DC, to participate in the National Rural Health Association’s annual Policy Institute. During our time there, we will meet with Kansas House members (the House is in session next week) and staff from our Senators’ offices (the Senate is not in session next week). We intend to discuss our ongoing concerns about site-neutral payment schemes, workforce shortages and the 340B drug pricing program.