New Law Avoiding Federal Government Shutdown Includes Several Health Care Program Policy Extensions

On March 15, President Trump signed into law the Full- Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, narrowly averting a partial federal government shutdown. Buried within this Act are certain provisions that impact health care delivery. Section 2207 extends Medicare flexibilities for telehealth services provided by rural health clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) – previously extended in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 – through September 30, 2025. Similarly, Section 2208 extends the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative, as currently authorized under Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) waivers and flexibilities, through September 30 as well.