Summary of FY23 Continuing Resolution
September 27, 2022
On Tuesday, Sept. 27, Congressional leaders released the text of the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 6833), also known as a continuing resolution, to fund the federal government through Dec. 16, 2022. The legislation is expected to be approved by Congress and subsequently signed into law by the President prior to the end of Sept. 30, therefore avoiding a government shutdown. The bill provides an extension of federal medical assistance percentage for each of the five U.S. territories through Dec. 16, authorizes and extends critical programs that improve the health of at-risk children through home visitation programs, and provides additional resources for the 9-8-8 Suicide Lifeline.
The text of the legislation and a section-by-section summary are publicly available.
Outlook
The ASTHO government affairs team is optimistic that the bill will be signed into law and a government shutdown is highly unlikely.
COVID-19/Monkeypox Funding
Despite ASTHO’s advocacy efforts, the bill does not include any additional emergency supplemental funding to address COVID-19 or the monkeypox outbreak. The legislation also does not provide any additional flexibilities to utilize COVID-19 funding to respond to monkeypox or other infectious disease outbreaks. The ASTHO government affairs team encourages state and territorial health officials to continue to work with federal agencies to maximize flexible uses of existing funding. Looking ahead, congressional leadership has expressed their interest in finalizing FY23 appropriations, prior to the end of this continuing resolution. This will likely happen after the conclusion of midterm elections.
Public Health Provisions
In addition to an extension of federal funding, the bill includes the following provisions that are relevant to state and territorial public health:
- Extends the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands through Dec. 16, 2022.
- Authorizes and extends the maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting (MIECHV) programs through Dec. 16, 2022. It is important to note that the House Ways and Means Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee introduced the Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Authorization Act earlier this month and it passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee. Additional information can be found in ASTHO’s summary of the bill.
- Provides an additional $62 million, to remain available until Sept. 30, 2023, for 9-8-8 Suicide Lifeline activities and behavioral health crisis services.