MBR Take-Aways
- Funding for Medicare and Medicaid is mandatory, meaning it is not subject to annual appropriations that lapse during a shutdown.
- A government shutdown could result in delays in claims processing, audits, and other administrative functions at CMS.
- During the 1995-1996 government shutdown, Medicare continued to pay physicians and hospitals according to prevailing payment rates, since claims are made out of the Medicare trusts and not current appropriations.
