Congress passed legislation on Nov. 12 to fund the federal government, and shortly after, President Donald Trump signed the continuing resolution into law, ending the longest ever government shutdown after 43 days of gridlock.

The agreement restores federal funding and extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities through Jan. 30, 2026. Virtual care provided during the shutdown will be covered retroactively.

The compromise reached by lawmakers includes a promise from congressional leadership to allow a separate vote in the U.S. Senate on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits augmented during the COVID-19 public health emergency, which are set to expire at the end of the year. The bill also ensures federal workers receive backpay for time worked during the shutdown and includes a commitment to rehire those terminated when the funding lapse began.

In addition to an expected vote on the ACA premium tax credits in December, negotiations are underway to determine which items will be included in any year-end legislative package.

The ACC is engaging with lawmakers to advocate for making Medicare telehealth flexibilities permanent, including coverage for audio-only services, home-based cardiac rehabilitation and the removal of originating site restrictions. The College is also urging Congress to address the efficiency adjustment, recently finalized by the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which will have severe repercussions for physician payment and patient access in the year ahead.

The ACC is also closely monitoring any package proposed by the Senate Appropriations Committee related to Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS) spending. The Labor-HHS spending bill provides funding for key health agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the ACC is committed to supporting strong funding levels for these agencies and their vital health programs.

Keywords: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Federal Government, United States, Telemedicine