On November 16, 2023, President Biden signed a “laddered” continuing resolution (CR) into law, entitled the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 to avert a government shutdown as federal funding was set to expire on November 17, 2023. The funding bill was unveiled by new House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-4) on Saturday, November 11, 2023, and promptly passed the House of Representatives on November 14, 2023, by a vote of 336 to 95. The Senate advanced the bill by a vote of 87 to 11 the following day. The bill is described as a clean short-term spending bill which means that it would extend existing funding with no additional funding cuts or controversial policy riders. The CR extends four annual funding bills through January 19, 2024, and extends the other eight annual funding bills, including the appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through February 2, 2024. In addition, the CR extends funding for several programs through January 19, 2024, including the Community Health Center Fund, National Health Service Corps, and Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (GME) Program. 

Impact on General Dentistry:

A government shutdown could have caused widespread disruption, especially for agencies and programs that rely on discretionary funding through annual appropriations acts. These consequences could have affected the health care industry, including dentistry. HHS will maintain its funding through February 2, 2024, providing short-term relief for the health care industry.