CHA is pleased that the bill prevents the four percent Medicare PAYGO cut to providers scheduled to go into effect at the end of the year. These cuts would be devastating to local health care providers across the country facing incredible financial strains.  In addition, CHA supports the two-year extension of telehealth waivers; new investments for mental health and substance abuse treatment; and increased funding for programs to address health workforce shortages of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. 

CHA is also grateful for the inclusion of historic investments in maternal health in the bill, including important programs that address maternal health disparities. Providing one-year postpartum coverage as a permanent state option in Medicaid is a welcome first step towards addressing our nation’s maternal morality challenges, and we hope Congress will continue to build on this effort by making post-partum coverage a nationwide Medicaid benefit for all new mothers. In addition, we thank lawmakers for extending the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) until 2029, ensuring 12-month continuous coverage for children in Medicaid and CHIP and providing additional funding for Medicaid in the territories. 

CHA welcomes the legislation’s effort to address health equity by funding a variety of social safety net programs critical for addressing the social determinants of health in our communities. Through our We Are Called initiative, Catholic health care continues to work to address racial and ethnic health disparities in our communities and the increased funding for housing programs, particularly for those who are homeless, as well as support for global health programs, are welcome signs of our nation’s commitment to those in need at home and around the world.

Finally, we welcome the legislation’s continued inclusion of the long-standing bipartisan Hyde-Weldon conscience protections necessary for Catholic health care providers to serve their communities.

We urge Congress to work together to ensure swift passage of these critical health investments in the 2023 Omnibus appropriations bill.”