Policy Update
Published October 01, 2024
By AACOM Government Relations
Federal Policy
OME Advocate
Congress Works to Pass Funding Bill, Avoid Government Shutdown- With time running out before the end of fiscal year (FY) 2024 on September 30, 2024, Congress must act to keep the federal government funded and operating.
- On September 18, the House of Representatives failed to pass a six-month continuing resolution (CR), H.R. 9494, that included level funding through March 28, 2025, and language requiring proof of citizenship to vote in national elections. The bill failed by a vote of 202-220, with two members voting present and seven members not voting.
- On September 22, 2024, the House released a new CR that funds the government through December 20, 2024, and drops the citizenship proposal. The bill must be passed and signed into law by October 1, 2024 to avoid a government shutdown. Review the bill and section by section.
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ED Delays FVT/GE Reporting Requirements- On September 13, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that institutions will now have until January 15, 2025 to report required information and review the Completers Lists under the Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) rules.
- Reports were originally due October 1, 2024.
- The FVT/GE rules were finalized last October and went into effect on July 1, 2024. The rules require postsecondary programs to report financial data and meet debt-to-earnings thresholds to protect students from low-performing programs.
- Based on feedback, ED intends that the new FVT/GE reporting deadline will allow institutions to prioritize activities related to processing of the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as prepare for the release of the 2025-26 FAFSA.
- According to a list published by ED, certain qualifying programs, including osteopathic medicine degree programs, have an extended earnings measurement period.
- AACOM commented on these regulations and advocated for reporting delays. View AACOM’s summary for more details about the final FVT/GE regulations.
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CMS Requests Information on Program Newness Standards- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is currently seeking feedback on proposed standards for determining residency program newness.
- Comments are due by October 15, 2024. More information can be found on this page under "Program Newness Request for Information."
- This request for information (RFI) follows publication of the CMS FY25 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule in August. CMS chose not to finalize “new” residency program requirements in the final rule due to lack of comment consensus.
- AACOM submitted comments on the FY25 IPPS proposed rule, including residency program newness standards in June.
- For detailed information on the final rule, review the CMS Fact Sheet and a summary from the National Rural Health Association.
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