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February 3, 2026

2026 HHS Funding Update

A bipartisan bill passed by Congress today funds the government through September 30, 2026. New HHS funding means bipartisan support for ACEP-led efforts.

Many of these hard-fought policy wins have taken years of ACEP advocacy to become priorities supported by federal funding.

This package will:  

  • Reauthorize and extend the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act through FY2030
  • Extend current Medicare telehealth flexibilities through CY2027
  • Continue funding for the ACEP-developed Emergency Department Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) program ($8m)
  • Extend the Geographic Practice Cost Index (GPCI) work floor through CY2026
  • Fund implementation of the No Surprises Act through CY2026
  • Extend ground ambulance add-on payments through CY2027
  • Prevent Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) cuts for the remainder of FY2026 and throughout all of FY2027
  • Extend the Acute Hospital-at-Home (HaH) waiver program through FY2030
  • Fund the MISSION ZERO program, a military-civilian partnership program that improves emergency preparedness and response capabilities ($4m)
  • Fund for the Trauma Care Readiness and Coordination Program ($2m)
  • Level funding for the CDC Injury Center ($761m)
  • Continue level funding for firearm injury prevention for the CDC and National Institutes of Health ($25m total; $12.5 million each)
  • Allot $3.7 billion for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), including $1 billion for the Biomedical Advance Research and Development Authority (BARDA), $79 million for the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), $1 billion for the Strategic National Stockpile, and $307 million for the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP)
  • Level funding for the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program ($24.3m)
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