$1.1 billion in Zika funding approved by Congress Funding for public health efforts against the Zika virus was finally approved by Congress with the passage of a stopgap measure to avoid a federal government shutdown. The spending measure includes $1.1 billion to fight the virus, capping a fierce months-long debate over the money that dismayed public health experts. The White House first requested $1.9 billion in funds to fight Zika in the spring. But Republicans initially resisted the request, before finally putting forward their own $1.1 billion Zika funding bill in July. The Republicans' bill failed to pass ... October 13, 2016 General Public Health, U.S. Congress, Zika Virus, Department of Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Lame duck session of Congress adjourns, leaving SGR reform until 2015 In the final hours of the lame duck session, Congress passed a $1.01 trillion spending bill that will keep most of the federal government funded through next September, but it failed to pass a fix for the Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR). Congress will leave it to be addressed before the April 1 deadline next year, when physicians will be faced with a 21 percent payment cut. Unfortunately, Congress will begin anew with many new members who have not been a part of the bipartisan, bicameral SGR Repeal and Medicare ... December 16, 2014 Medicare SGR, Sustainable Growth Rate, Medicare, U.S. Congress 0 0 Comment Read More »
