- President Biden has dictated the first cuts to trim the $3.5 trillion spending bill down to somewhere in the $1.75 trillion to $1.9 trillion range. The president told lawmakers that a program providing free community college is on the chopping block and a child tax credit may be extended for fewer years than planned. He also said that an expansion of Medicare to provide new benefits to seniors remains on the table to keep progressives on board, although he continues to eye boosts for additional health care programs, including improvements to Medicaid. (Articles here, here, and here)
- HHS said it will revoke rules issued near the end of the Trump administration that barred the agency from punishing individuals and organizations for violating HHS guidance and from delivering civil enforcement actions via standards that weren’t publicly declared. HHS said the so-called “good guidance” rules would hinder the Biden administration in its efforts to address “urgent challenges” brought on by the pandemic and health care inequities. (Article here)
October 20, 2021
D.C. News