Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025

This law keeps the federal government open and funded for the rest of fiscal year 2025, mostly at last year’s levels, and avoids a shutdown. It also renews a number of programs that were about to expire.

For health care, it extends Medicare telehealth through September 30, 2025—including phone-only visits—and delays in‑person check‑ins for mental health until October 1, 2025. It also continues “hospital at home” care and keeps Medicare drug plans covering certain oral antivirals through September 30, 2025. It continues funding for community health centers, the National Health Service Corps, and teaching health centers, and it keeps the Special Diabetes Programs, including the program for Indians, running through September 30, 2025. It keeps extra support for small rural hospitals and ambulance services and increases help for older adults and people with disabilities to get Medicare counseling and benefits assistance. It also delays planned cuts to Medicaid payments for safety‑net hospitals until 2028.

• Who is affected: Medicare patients and caregivers; people who use community health centers; rural communities; people with diabetes; families using TANF; homeowners in flood zones.
• What changes: Government services continue for FY2025. Medicare telehealth, “hospital at home,” and coverage of certain oral antivirals continue; in‑person mental health check‑ins are delayed. Community health centers, the National Health Service Corps, and the Special Diabetes Programs stay funded. Extra help continues for rural hospitals and ambulance services, plus counseling and benefits assistance for older adults and people with disabilities.
• What else is extended: A DHS cybersecurity system, authority to act against threats from drones, and the temporary listing of fentanyl‑related substances in Schedule I through September 30, 2025; also the CFTC whistleblower program. The law continues the National Flood Insurance Program, TANF, several immigration programs, the U.S. Parole Commission, and livestock price reporting.
• When: Most extensions run through September 30, 2025; some health rules run through October 1, 2025; Medicaid safety‑net hospital cuts are delayed until 2028.