House Appropriations Committee reveals $116.6 billion health funding bill for 2026

On January 20, the House Appropriations Committee released text of a three-bill minibus for fiscal year 2026 that includes funding for key health programs and other bipartisan health care provisions and extensions. The bill provides a discretionary total of $116.6 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services and maintains funding for key rural health, health care workforce, and behavioral health programs. The bill also includes a one-year delay of payment reductions for clinical laboratory services. It also includes a five-year extension of hospital-at-home flexibilities and eliminates Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts until FY 2028. The House is expected to vote on the bill this week, with the Senate expected to follow next week before the January 30 funding deadline.