Health Policy Digest - March 2025

We are pleased to present the March 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.

ARN Endorses ICAN Act 

Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) reintroduced the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act. Specifically, this legislation would increase access to high quality care and lower costs by removing the barriers that prevent Advanced Practice Registered Nurses from practicing to the full scope of their education and clinical training at the level that is approved in the state where they practice. ARN joined more than 260 organizations in endorsing the ICAN Act in the 119^th Congress. We look forward to working together to see this bill signed into law!

Government Shutdown Averted 

Congress passed and the President signed a continuing resolution (CR) to extend government funding through September 30, the end of the fiscal year. The CR funds the National Institutes of Health at the same appropriated amount as FY 2024; however, the mandatory funding for the BRAIN initiative authorized by 21st Century Cures Act continues to be phased out and is not backfilled in the CR. Therefore, NIH funding in FY 2025 will be $48.2 billion, a reduction of $280 million from FY 2024 levels. The CR also extended a number of critical health programs, including the Medicare telehealth flexibilities, through September 30.

Additionally, it is important to note that the CR does not have an accompanying report or explanatory language. Funding for programs like the Title VIII Nursing Workforce programs at the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Chronic Disease Prevention programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is specified in the appropriations report. This gives the administration discretion on how and if to fund these entities. At this point, we have not heard anything to indicate they will eliminate funding for these programs but want ARN members to be aware.

Trump's Health Nominees 

On March 13, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted to advance the nominations of Marty Makary as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner and Jay Bhattacharya as Director of the NIH. Makary and Bhattacharya's confirmation by the full Senate is expected to be relatively smooth. That same day, the White House pulled Dave Weldon's nomination to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just hours before his confirmation hearing. Weldon, a physician and former Florida representative, had faced scrutiny due to his history of anti-vaccine rhetoric. On March 14, Dr. Mehmet Oz testified before the Senate Finance Committee for his confirmation hearing to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). During his hearing, Oz outlined many of his priorities, including reducing health care spending, increasing the use of technology, and preventing waste and abuse across CMS programs.

MedPAC March Report to Congress 

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released its federally mandated March report to Congress, including chapters on skilled nursing facility (SNF) and inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) services. MedPAC's analysis found that the indicators of Medicare payment adequacy for SNF care were mostly positive in 2023, indicating "sufficient beneficiary access to care." MedPAC proposed a reduction to SNF payment rates, recommending that, for FY 2026, the 2025 Medicare base payment rates for SNFs be reduced by 3 percent. Additionally, the MedPAC report highlighted that the FFS Medicare program accounted for about 51 percent of all IRF discharges and found that IRF payment-adequacy indicators were positive in 2023. Ultimately, MedPAC believes that FFS Medicare's payments to IRFs must be reduced to more closely align aggregate payments with aggregate costs. Therefore, the Commission recommended that, for FY 2026, the 2025 base payment rate for IRFs should be reduced by 7 percent. It's important to note that MedPAC's recommendations are advisory in nature and do not carry any binding authority.

Take Action and Introduce ARN to the 119^th Congress

It is important for members of Congress to hear from ARN about our priorities. Check out ARN's Grassroots Advocacy page on the website to access pre-written emails that you can send to your members of Congress, highlighting key priorities related to rehabilitation nursing, workforce development, research, and telehealth.

Notice of Funding Opportunities 

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

• NIH StrokeNet Clinical Trials and Biomarker Studies for Stroke Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-25-052)
• NCMRR Early Career Research Award (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-25-124)
• Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-25-378)
• Short Courses on Innovative Methodologies and Approaches in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R25 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) (RFA-OD-25-003)
• Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-25-379)
• Leadership and Coordination Center (LACC) for the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) (U01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) (RFA-HL-26-011)
• Limited Competition: Data Analysis and Sharing Center (DASC) for the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) (U01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) (RFA-HL-26-010)
• Limited Competition: Clinical Research Sites (CRS) for the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-HL-26-009)
• Interventions on Health and Healthcare Disparities on Non-Communicable and Chronic Diseases in Latin America: Improving Health Outcomes Across the Hemisphere (R01 - Clinical Trial Required) (PAR-25-342)
• Unveiling Health and Healthcare Disparities in Non-Communicable and Chronic Diseases in Latin America: Setting the Stage for Better Health Outcomes Across the Hemisphere (R01 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) (PAR-25-377)
• Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Health and Function Among People with Serious Mental Health Conditions (HHS-2025-ACL-NIDILRR-RTHF-0123)
• Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Research on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) As a Lifelong Condition (HHS-2025-ACL-NIDILRR-DPHF-0117)