By Sara Hynes on January 15, 2026
Category: Health Policy & Advocacy

ARN Health Policy Digest - January 2026

We are pleased to present the January issue of the ARN Health Policy Digest. This member benefit provides updates on health policy and legislative and regulatory developments that may be of interest to rehabilitation nurses. ​

A Look into FY 2026 Appropriations in the New Year

As the January 30 deadline for government funding draws near, Congress is working to pass all necessary appropriations bills to ensure government funding does not lapse. Congress is working on minibus funding packages that combine appropriations bills. With the passage of the Continuing Resolution (CR) in November, which funded the government until January 30, Congress passed a funding package that included Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, the Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy and Water, and Interior-Environment funding package was signed into law on January 15.

Since returning from the holidays, Congress is working on minibuses to finish out the fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding. The Financial Services and National Security-State package has passed in the House and is waiting on a vote in the Senate. The fourth and final minibus is expected to have Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS), the Department of Defense, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and the text for the bill is expected to come out this weekend.

We will be tracking and updating members on the status of ARN's funding priorities for FY 26.

House Passes Clean Extension of Affordable Care Act Advanced Premium Tax Credits

​The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC) that subsidized insurance premiums from the ACA marketplace expired on December 31. Before the new year, the Senate was promised a vote on the subject, but did not end up passing any extensions. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) did not intend to hold a vote on the expiring APTCs, but House Democrats successfully used a discharge petition, meaning they got the support of multiple Republicans, to force a vote on a clean three-year extension of the subsidies. The House ultimately passed the extension and is now waiting for the Senate to hold a vote. However, the Senate, as shown by the previous vote, is much less aligned on the topic with various plans on how to address the rising cost of insurance.

New York City Hospital Nurses on Strike 

On January 12 almost 15,000 nurses at some of New York City's top hospitals went on strike to ensure minimum staffing ratios, higher wages, and more security at hospitals. Hospitals are working to undo safe staffing standards that were enacted three years ago as a result of the strike in 2023. Unlike the strike in 2023 which lasted three days, this strike is expected to last much longer as the hospitals put in millions of dollars to hire specialized agency nurses to work in place of the striking nurses. Additionally, Hospitals say that the salary increase nurses are asking for are more than the hospitals can afford, especially as approximately one million New Yorkers are expected to lose health insurance. However, nurses point out that their demands are necessary to ensure the safety of themselves and their patients.

Notice of Funding Opportunities 

​Below is a list of other funding opportunities for interested ARN members.