8 takeaways for practice leaders from Congress’ new funding package

Congress has moved another round of federal funding across the finish line, ending the latest shutdown and setting spending levels for major health and human services agencies through Sept. 30. For medical practices, the biggest story is not a single line item. It is what the package signals: more stability on a few operational pain points, such as telehealth rules, rural payment geography and value-based incentives, plus a clearer direction on where federal health dollars and priorities are headed.

The catch is that practices will feel the impact unevenly. Some provisions are immediate, “keep doing what works” extensions. Others are program-level bets that will shape workforce capacity, behavioral health access and community partnerships over the next year.

Here are eight takeaways for practice leaders.