A bipartisan deal to fund the FDA and the VA would mitigate cuts to doctors’ Medicare reimbursements and boost funding for community health centers. But it’s the policies that didn’t make the funding package unveiled over the weekend that have the chair of the Senate’s health panel, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), perturbed.
How’s that? Sanders decried Congress’ inability to pass a larger package — something his committee has worked on for months, gaining bipartisan backing — that would create more stability and predictability in the government’s funding streams.
Sanders’ panel in September approved legislation he drafted with Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) that would provide billions in funding for community health centers and bolster the doctor, nursing and dentist workforces. But little of that made it into the deal that Congress will likely pass this month.
Community health center advocates echoed Sanders’ sentiment, applauding the funding increases while asking leaders to find long-term solutions.