There’s now a chance for bipartisan health care policies, but partisan tensions are running high

WASHINGTON — Republicans’ first major policy bill this year was a partisan affair: They cut Medicaid funding by some $1 trillion to help fund tax cuts prized by President Trump.

Now, though, there are some bipartisan health care policies, from pharmacy-benefit manager reform to Medicare doctor payment changes, that the two parties could work on — and many health care programs with bipartisan support that are set to expire this year if lawmakers don’t act. 

Congress typically uses annual appropriations bills to renew many health care programs and policies in Medicare and Medicaid, collectively called health care extenders. Well over a dozen expire or run out of cash after Sept. 30, including a popular Medicare program that makes telehealth services widely available, and funding for community health centers, hospitals that care for large numbers of uninsured, and certain pandemic preparedness activities.