Shutdown: Possible Deal Would Fund Programs, Extend Telehealth, Pay for SNAP

The Senate on November 10, 2025 voted 60-40 to pass a continuing resolution (CR) that will, should the House advance it, reopen the federal government after a historic 40-plus day shutdown.

Included in the CR are numerous provisions of interest to aging services providers; it was negotiated over the weekend and on Sunday November 9, 2025 the Senate voted to procedurally advance it. A day later, on November 10, another Senate vote sealed its approval.

Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Angus King (I-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Jackie Rosen (D-NV) voted with all Senate Republicans to approve the measure.

A vote in the House is expected today.

The CR funds government programs through January 30, 2026, extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities through January 30, 2026, waives the 4% Medicare pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) cut from being implemented in calendar year 2026, fully funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through fiscal year 2026, and includes three full-year appropriations bills (Agriculture, Military Construction-VA, and Legislative Branch).

In addition, it includes back pay for federal workers furloughed during the shutdown and brings back all federal workers fired through reduction in force actions during the shutdown and also calls for a Senate vote on the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies in December.

Regarding telehealth, the CR includes extenders of telehealth flexibilities and the acute hospital at home program through January 30, 2026-the length of the overall continuing resolution. The telehealth language appears to be intended to cover the shutdown period and apply retroactively.

Once the government reopens, LeadingAge will ask the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for guidance on how they plan to implement this retroactivity and ask for specific clarity for our range of providers.

The CR also waives Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) that would have triggered mandatory sequestration as a result of the deficits incurred by the passage of H.R. 1. The waiver ensures that there will be no mandatory sequestration, including for Medicare.

If passed in the House, the legislation moves to the President. It is possible, under this scenario, that the shutdown could end this week.