Federal Government "Shutdown": What it Means for Senior Services Providers
As of this writing, the federal government is in the midst of what is commonly referred to as a “shutdown.” This shutdown is the result of both houses of Congress and the White House failing to come to agreement on continuing spending resolutions or appropriations for the Oct. 1 start of the new federal fiscal year.
The key issue for senior services providers is that major entitlement programs, including Medicare, Medicaid (through an advance appropriation), and Social Security are separately funded and do not go through the same appropriations mechanism. Therefore, these programs will continue without disruption. Other senior services programs may be impacted, however. The duration of the shut down and the potential implications for the debt ceiling debate (Oct. 17 deadline) remain to be seen.
LeadingAge NY and LeadingAge national are carefully monitoring the situation and will advise members of the latest developments. For member convenience, we are providing the following additional LeadingAge national analysis of the impact of the shutdown:
Senior Housing
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is identifying staff needed to ensure that Section 202 and 811 projects headed into final closing and preservation/refinance deals lined up for the coming month will be able to move forward as planned and will not be delayed for the entire month of October.
Subsidy payment personnel and Tenant Rental Assistance Certification System (TRACS) helpdesk staff are also being identified in the same way, so subsidy payments and contract renewals should not be held up during the shutdown.
Senior Home and Community-Based Services Programs
The Administration on Community Living will not be able to fund senior nutrition services under Title III, Native American nutrition and supportive services, prevention of elder abuse, or long term care ombudsmen during the lapse in appropriations. Quarterly formula grants for Social Services Block Grants and Community Service Block Grants will be held up until a spending bill is passed.
Affordable Care Act
Oct. 1 is the date for individuals currently uninsured to begin signing up and that process will move forward regardless of the government shutdown. CMS will continue many Affordable Care Act administrative activities.
Health Care Provider Oversight
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be able to do fewer recertification and initial surveys for Medicare and Medicaid providers. Health care fraud and abuse strike forces will not be able to operate during a shutdown.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will be unable to support the annual seasonal influenza program, disease outbreak detection and linking across state boundaries using genetic and molecular analysis, continuous updating of disease treatment and prevention recommendations for diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis, or technical assistance, analysis and support to state and local partners for infectious disease surveillance.
Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be unable to support the majority of its food safety, nutrition, and cosmetics activities.
The FDA will also have to cease safety activities such as routine establishment inspections, some compliance and enforcement activities, monitoring of imports, notification programs (e.g., food contact substances, infant formula), and the majority of the laboratory research necessary to inform public health decision-making.
Preparedness and Response
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) would be unable to fund activities related to medical countermeasures against chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and emerging threats, the Hospital Preparedness Program, or fully staff the National Disaster Medical System.
Additionally, the potential assistance to Colorado in recovering from recent unprecedented flooding and preparations for responding to H7N9 influenza or a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus incident could be delayed.
Contact: Patrick Cucinelli, pcucinelli@leadingage.org, 518-867-8827