A bill to avert Medicare, farm program, other mandatory program spending cuts was approved by the House on Friday, passing on a vote of 246-175. The measure waives statutory requirements to offset the $1.86 trillion COVID aid law and extending the suspension of separate Medicare cuts another nine months, as well as any potential cuts to mandatory farm program spending.
Ultimately, 29 Republicans voted with all Democrats to pass the bill. The bill also would make several other changes to the aid/stimulus law, including a correction aimed at ensuring that hospitals serving a disproportionate share of uninsured patients are not penalized for receiving additional aid.
The bill preserves special rules for disproportionate share hospitals in California, allowing them to claim funding up to 175% of their costs.
It is not clear whether the Senate will approve the plan or if the action will be included in another must-pass bill later.