Dive Brief:
- Late Monday, the White House and congressional leaders reached an $80-billion two-year budget agreement which could stave off the threat of another government shutdown through the remainder of President Barack Obama's term, Tribune Washington Bureau/Sacramento Bee reports.
- American Health Line's First Look reported the agreement includes two healthcare changes, including the elimination of an ACA measure requiring large employers to enroll workers in health plans automatically unless the employee opts out.
- The second major healthcare change reached in the agreement is the delay of deductible and premium increases for Medicare beneficiaries. The agreement proposes an extension of a 2 percentage-point cut in Medicare payments to physicians until the end of a 10-year budget, The Associated Press's Big Story reports.
Dive Insight:
Sacramento Bee reports the deal is likely to face oppositions from both sides of the aisle.
A vote is expected Wednesday and will likely be one of the final duties for John Boehner (R-OH) as Speaker of the House. He is expected to step down by Friday, The Washington Post reports.