On Friday, March 14, 2025, the U.S. Senate passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through Sept. 30. The bill extends a handful of health care provisions that were set to expire at the end of March. The program extensions that most benefit UW Medicine include:
- Medicare Telehealth and Hospital-at-Home Extensions: Telehealth waivers (permitting expanded access to telehealth services) and the hospital-at-home program have been extended through Sept. 30, 2025.
- Workforce Extenders: Grants that support recruitment and training for Community Health Centers, the National Health Service Corps, and Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education Program were also extended through Sept. 30, 2025.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding was not explicitly addressed in the bill and there was no language reducing indirect fund reimbursement. We recognize that some awards are stalled despite a preliminary injunction prohibiting changes in funding. Research discoveries are among our most lasting societal contributions, and I encourage you to read and share a new Indirect Funds Fact Sheet that explains their critical importance. The Fact Sheet is designed to help explain the partnership between universities and the federal government to drive research that ultimately benefits the public.
Moving forward, there is still risk to Medicaid as the new budget gives the executive branch greater authority over funding and cuts without congressional approval. We will not slow our advocacy to maintain those programs, federal research funding and the many other priorities important to delivering on our mission.
Here are other updates for the week:
- Financial Stability Measures: We have created documents to provide more clarity regarding expense reduction: School of Medicine Financial Stability FAQ and School of Medicine Temporary Hiring Freeze FAQ.
- Research: UW is still experiencing delays for new awards, renewals and non-competing renewals of federal grants. We have recently shared advance spend directives. If you receive requests for institutional compliance certification from a funding agency, please contact the Office of Sponsored Programs immediately: osp@uw.edu.
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: The Programs and Activities Checklist has been updated. Please review to understand the criteria you should apply to programming to ensure compliance with state and federal law. We are aware that different institutions are making different choices with respect to their EDI programming. We are fortunate to be supported by the Washington State Attorney General’s Office and will continue to follow their compliance direction.
- Gender-Affirming Care: A new “Know Your Rights” flyer from the Washington State Attorney General’s Office is available on our Federal Policy Updates site.
- International Travel for U.S. Visa Holders, Green Card Holders and Permanent Residents: If making the decision to travel outside the U.S., evaluate potential challenges you may encounter with re-entry. When returning to the U.S., be prepared for inspection at the port of entry. Officers may ask questions about your work, studies or future plans. It is wise to carry supporting documents that prove employment or enrollment. We will provide more detailed guidance as it is available.
- Town Hall: We will hold the next Town Hall on March 28 at 9:30 a.m. Please use this form to share your questions so we can address common themes: Submit Your Questions.
Please remember to check the UW Medicine Federal Policy Updates site for the latest information; it is updated in real time.
Thank you for your perseverance every day on behalf of our patients, our people and the public. Your work makes a difference in the lives of others.
Sincerely,
Timothy H. Dellit, MD (He, Him, His)
CEO, UW Medicine
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and
Paul G. Ramsey Endowed Dean of the School of Medicine,
University of Washington
