As expected, the federal shutdown began early Wednesday morning.
What’s unknown is how long it will continue.
Neither congressional Republicans nor Democrats appear to be concerned – yet – about the political consequences as a result.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, those who had endured symptoms for a prolonged period were identified as being “long-haul” patients.
Fast forward to today, and nobody seems to know when the shutdown might end. The last federal shutdown occurred during President Trump’s first term and dragged on for 35 days, reportedly one of the longest shutdowns in recent American history.
The prevailing opinion is that this shutdown might be headed in that direction and become another long haul of uncertainty. Most experts seem to agree that the longer the shutdown, the more severe the consequences.
Federal agencies are expected to remain open, but “non-essential” federal employes are expected to be furloughed, and there is reporting that massive layoffs are in the works.
Also at issue are subsidies, scheduled to expire at the end of 2025, for Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) tax credits.
Looking ahead, federal agencies have contingency plans in place, although in some cases, a lack of funding would impact some services.
Payments for Medicare and Medicaid services are expected to continue, although there may be delays. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has indicated that payments from the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to eligible states will continue. To help healthcare professionals understand the impact of the shutdown, RACmonitor and ICD10monitor are publishing a special section tomorrow titled “The Lowdown on the Shutdown.” Stay tuned.
