September 2025 Health Policy Digest: What Rehab Nurses Need to Know

We are pleased to present the September 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.  

House Republicans Advance Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill

Shortly after returning from the August recess, the House Appropriations Committee marked up and approved its fiscal year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services (Labor-HHS) appropriations bill. The bill provides $108 billion for the Department of HHS, a $7 billion decrease compared to FY 2025. Notably, the bill does not include the Trump administration's proposal to restructure HHS and funds all 27 existing National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes and Centers. The House report specifically includes language that "any large-scale restructuring proposal" of the NIH remains under the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Funding highlights include:

• $46.9 billion for the NIH, an increase of $99 million from FY 2025 levels;
• oThis includes $197.7 billion for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), which represents level funding from FY 2025 levels.
• $7.4 billion for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which is a decrease of $900 million from FY 2025 levels;
• oThis includes $258 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce programs, which is a decrease of approximately $50 million from FY 2025 levels, including $89.6 million for Advanced Nursing Education. This bill does not prioritize available funding for the Nursing Workforce Diversity Program or the Nursing Faculty Loan Program.
• Within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), $100 million for the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), which is a decrease of $19 million from FY 2025 levels, and $13.1 million for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Programs, which represents level funding from FY 2025 levels; and
• $7.5 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is approximately $1.6 billion less than the Labor-HHS bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee and a decrease of $1.7 billion from FY 2025 levels.
• This includes level funding at $665 million for Injury Prevention and Control, including $8.25 million specifically for TBI.
  
  

FY 2025 ends on September 30, meaning that without the passage of a continuing resolution (CR) there will be a government shutdown. With only 3 bills passed in both House and the Senate, Congress has turned to passing a CR to keep the government funded as they work on passing all the appropriations bills. The House Appropriations Committee released text for a clean CR intended to fund the government until November 21. The House will vote on the CR on September 19. We look forward to keeping members informed in October!

Reauthorization of Nursing Workforce Programs

On September 10, the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced H.R. 3593, Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025. This bill would reauthorize the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VIII nursing workforce development programs, which are set to expire on September 30. Last month, ARN joined a letter with 66 organizations urging Committee leaders to reauthorize these critical programs.

The bill is now going to the full Committee for consideration, where it looks well-positioned to advance given the strong bipartisan support it received in the subcommittee. We'll keep members updated as we learn more!

ARN Comments on CMS Hospital Outpatient Rule

ARN recently submitted comments in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) calendar year (CY) 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) proposed rule. Specifically, ARN's comments focused on ensuring consistently terminology the federal government, which is especially important in the context of rehabilitation services, where patient access depends on the ability of the full care team, including APRNs, to practice to the top of their license. Additionally, ARN comments on the use of telehealth in rehabilitation settings, quality reporting programs, and hospital price transparency. For more information, please see our final comment letter, found here. 

ICYMI – Rehab Research Conference

In case you missed it – Last month, the NIH held a conference titled, "Rehabilitation Research 2025: Rehabilitation for All" to promote rehabilitation research and identify future directions for the field. This conference, which was the third NIH-wide rehabilitation conference to be held since 2016, brought together a range of rehabilitation topics and perspectives. We encourage you to watch the recording here. ​​

Notice of Funding Opportunities

• NINR Mentoring Resources and Activities (FOR-NR-25-003)
• Limited Competition: Community-Partnered Nursing Research Centers for Schools and Colleges for Nursing with Limited NIH Funding (P20 Clinical Trial Optional) (FOR-NR-25-006)
• Leveraging Nursing Research to Advance Healthy School Environments for All (FOR-NR-25-002)
• Advancing Nutrition-related Research Across the Lifespan (FOR-NR-25-001)
• Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes and Reduce Health Disparities in Rural Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) (FOR-NR-25-007)
• Limited Competition: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Postdoctoral Research Training Grant for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program (T32 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PAR-25-195)
• Community Partnered Nursing Research Centers (P20 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-25-439)

Health Policy Insights Exclusive to ARN Members

The Health Policy Digest is just one of the many ways ARN keeps our members informed and empowered. Each issue delivers timely updates on legislative and regulatory developments that directly impact rehabilitation nursing and the patients we serve. Through ARN's advocacy efforts, members have a collective voice in shaping policies that support nursing practice, strengthen the workforce, and advance rehabilitation care nationwide. 

By joining ARN, you gain access to these exclusive insights and play an active role in amplifying the voice of rehab nurses on Capitol Hill. Together, we ensure our profession is represented, our priorities are heard, and our patients' needs remain at the center of health policy decisions.