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LATEST FROM THE HILL FROM POLITICO – 4:50 PM
Congressional leaders left a high-stakes Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump without a breakthrough Monday, greatly raising the likelihood of a government shutdown starting early Wednesday morning.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters at the White House that “there are still large differences between us.”
“Their bill has not one iota of Democratic input,” he added, referring to a House-passed seven-week stopgap funding bill that Senate Democrats rejected earlier this month. “That is never how we’ve done this before.”
Another person granted anonymity to describe the closed-door meeting said it was a “frank discussion” but that the two sides were “too far apart” at this point.
“There’s no way right now,” the person added.
Ahead of the meeting, Trump himself cast doubt on the prospects for a deal.
“They’re going to have to do some things because their ideas are not very good ones,” he said about Democrats. “They’re very bad for our country, so we’ll see how that works out.”
The meeting, held just ahead of the Tuesday midnight shutdown deadline, was the first time Trump has held a formal meeting with the top Democratic leaders since he was sworn in for a second term in January. It’s also the first time they have spoken at all about government funding in that time
Leading up to the meeting, Schumer and Jeffries struck different tones about what would be an acceptable solution to the shutdown standoff. Jeffries staked out a hard line on health care, saying any agreement needed to “ironclad and in legislation” and suggesting any kind of handshake agreement to continue negotiating would not be enough. Schumer was more circumspect, telling reporters on Monday “we’re ready to get to work. It’s about time.”
Democrats have insisted health care be part of government funding negotiations, with the extension of Obamacare insurance subsidies forming the core of their demands. While Republicans have opened the door to negotiating on the tax credits, which are available to people receiving health care through Affordable Care Act marketplaces and expire at the end of the year, they have insisted they be dealt with separately from the pending shutdown fight.
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democratic leader, said a commitment from GOP leaders to work on extending the tax credits would be a “real mark of progress.”
“Whether it’s enough, I can’t say,” he added.
GOP leaders so far are ruling out any idea that they’d agree to ACA talks as part of an agreement to avert a shutdown.
“Most of our guys would lose their minds,” said a senior House GOP aide involved in the talks.
Republican leaders are navigating competing schools of thought within their own ranks about how to handle the subsidies and are looking for a clear sign from Trump to guide their efforts to reach a potential agreement later this year. They are also under fierce pressure from their right-flanks not to cut an 11th-hour deal with Democrats, believing they have the political upper hand heading into a potential shutdown.
Thune confirmed before leaving for the White House that the Senate will vote on Tuesday on the House-passed continuing resolution that would fund the government until Nov. 21, buying lawmakers more time to negotiate full-year appropriations bills and reach a potential deal on the insurance subsidies.
Democrats rejected that bill earlier this month, and if they reject it a second time, Thune is expected to tee it back up for another vote. Republicans are also looking at other procedural steps they could take to squeeze Democrats during a shutdown.
Senate Democrats are privately discussing multiple options for how to get out of a shutdown and keep pressure on Republicans to come to the table on the ObamaCare subsidies, according to two people granted anonymity to disclose internal discussions.
Senate Democrats can also force a re-vote on their proposal that would extend funding through Oct. 31 and would reverse $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid from the GOP’s recent domestic policy megabill, along with a permanent extension of the health insurance subsidies.
It would also restrict the president’s authority to claw back congressionally approved funding, addressing Democratic frustrations over the Trump administration’s recent moves to reverse bipartisan spending bills. Further vexing Democrats was White House budget chief Russ Vought’s threat last week to engage in mass firings of federal workers in case of a shutdown.
House Democrats have publicly and privately fretted that Senate Democrats could reverse course and vote to advance GOP-backed funding legislation after most House Democrats opposed it. Helping fuel that concern, several Senate Democrats have sidestepped questions over the past week about what they might do if Republicans moved toward formal negotiations on the Obamacare subsidies.
Asked if an agreement to keep talking Is that the best Democrats can reasonably expect, Durbin said, “I’m not going to go into that. I’m just going to say if we’re not sitting down talking about ending this responsibly and helping people deal with health care, it’s going to be a rocky road.”
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FROM THE ARTICLE BELOW:
“Although the White House instructed federal agencies last week to fire workers during a shutdown,
HHS is not going that route, according to the contingency plans.”
Major health programs would continue during shutdown, feds say
By Bridget Early
September 29, 2025 03:09 PM, MODERN HEALTHCARE
The healthcare system would largely be unaffected during a federal government shutdown — at least in the near term, the Health and Human Services Department announced Monday.
HHS and agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released shutdown contingency playbooks Monday that align with what previous federal administrations planned ahead of potential funding lapses.
The federal government is on track to shut down at midnight EST Wednesday, when fiscal 2026 begins. President Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress have failed to enact annual appropriations bills to finance government operations. Negotiations with Senate Democrats continued Monday.
Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the federal health insurance exchanges would continue operating for the immediate future, HHS announced. The first three programs are mandatory and not subject to annual appropriations and CMS would cover exchange expenses with insurance company user fees.
CMS would pause or limit healthcare facility surveys and certifications, new policy and regulation announcements, contract oversight, enrollee outreach and education, and beneficiary casework.
HHS would cease activities such as overseeing extramural research contracts and grants, managing public inquiries, and collecting and analyzing data.
Although the White House instructed federal agencies last week to fire workers during a shutdown, HHS is not going that route, according to the contingency plans.
HHS would furlough 41% of its nearly 80,000 employees if the government shuts down. Similarly, CMS would furlough 53% of 6,200 workers. CMS would retain employees focused on mandatory programs and waste, fraud and abuse enforcement.
These contingency plans assume a short-term shutdown. A prolonged gap in federal funding would force HHS to make further cutbacks.
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Last week the Governor signed S6757 (Fernandez) / A8459 (Solages) into law. Here’s more about the legislation:
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
INTRODUCER’S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT
submitted in accordance with Senate Rule VI. Sec 1
BILL NUMBER: S6757 SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to statewide opioid settlement agreements
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To clarify that the opioid settlement agreement must include settlements and releases related to any entities involved in the prescription drug marketing, supply and payment chain that may have contributed to the opioid epidemic through their illegal conduct.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 amends subdivision (a) to clarify language to include within the settlement agreement all parties resolving claims regarding their opioid production conduct. Section 2 amends subdivision (d) to clarify language to include parties involved in a statewide opioid settlement agreement. Section 3 sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION: When New York State started bringing lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors for their role in the opioid crisis, the goal was to use the funds secured to help those who were harmed by the overdose epidemic. To date, over $3 billion in settlements have been directed towards New York communities for treatment, recovery, and prevention efforts. However, technical language in new settlements has led to confusion over where the funds will go. This bill clarifies that all funds received from settlements from opioid manufacturers and distributors is to go towards efforts to combat the overdose epidemic and aid those who have been impacted by substance use disorders.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: TBD
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
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OMIG to Host Health Care Provider Engagement Forum on Oct. 29
The New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) will host a health care provider engagement forum on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM, in New York City at 90 Church Street, regarding OMIG’s Medicaid program integrity efforts.
The session will include updates on the agency’s initiatives and opportunities for participants to provide input and ask questions.
In-person attendance is available on a first-registered, first-served basis, as seating is limited. To ensure providers from across the state have an opportunity to participate, a virtual option is also available.
Providers interested in submitting input, questions or recommendations prior to the session are encouraged to complete OMIG’s Health Care Provider Engagement Session Feedback Form.
Please Note: OMIG cannot consider, in any capacity, specific matters pertaining to audits or investigations that are currently before the agency.
Questions about the event can be sent via email to: information@omig.ny.gov.
EVENT INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
When: October 29, 2025; 10:00AM – 11:30AM
Location: 90 Church St., 4th Floor Conference Room, New York, NY, 10007
In-person registration: https://forms.office.com/g/FTE6Z5af0W
Please note: If attending in person, please remember to bring a government-issued photo ID, as only those who registered for the event and who have a valid ID will be allowed access past building security.
Virtual Registration:
https://totalwebcasting.com/view/?func=VOFF&id=nysomig&date=2025-10-29&seq=1
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