Congress poised to fund federal government

Congress is poised this week to approve legislation that would fund the federal government through September 30. The House voted Wednesday to approve the bill and the Senate is expected to vote by Friday’s deadline. The $1 trillion bill includes a 4 percent boost for rural health programs, including a small hike in the Rural Hospital Flexibility, telehealth grant funds, and Children’s Graduate Medical Education. The measure also contains increased funds for the National Institutes of Health and for federal efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. (John Flink, WSHA Federal Lobbyist)