Government shutdown updates
Updated January 30, 2026
Effects of a government shutdown
With Congress failing to pass all federal spending legislation by its deadline of January 30, the US government has entered a partial shutdown. This means non-essential federal employees cannot report to work, and many services will be paused until Congress reaches an agreement to fund the entire government. Several agencies that are important to AAN members and the patients they serve will be impacted, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Some past shutdowns have lasted only a couple of days, while a handful of others—like the record 43-day shutdown this past fall—have stretched for weeks. 
We understand that a partial shutdown could be extremely disruptive to your practice and the lives of your patients. Know that the AAN is working with policymakers to advocate for a quick resolution to this issue. You can direct any questions about the shutdown or share how it’s impacting your practice by emailing advocacy@aan.com.
How does the shutdown affect your practice?
A government shutdown of any length could result in delays in claims processing, audits, and other administrative functions, but CMS will continue to pay Medicare reimbursement as long as funds allow without a reauthorization in appropriations. Additionally, CMS employees who answer Medicare billing questions and process enrollment applications are paid through annual appropriations and could be affected by the shutdown. 
Telehealth extension
Waivers stemming from the COVID-19 public health emergency that allowed CMS to pay for Medicare telehealth claims in all geographic originating sites, including patients’ homes and via audio-only modalities, expired on January 31, 2026. Rules regarding the provision of care via telehealth have reverted to pre-COVID-19 regulations for many Medicare beneficiaries. During the previous lapse in telehealth flexibilities during the 2025 shutdown, CMS provided guidance on how providers should handle telehealth claims. We will update this webpage if we receive guidance from CMS regarding telehealth reimbursement during the shutdown.
How does the shutdown affect the NIH and research funding?
Those who have an existing NIH grant will continue to be able to draw from it as long as no problems arise. If a drawdown of funds triggers an edit check or limit control, grantees may not be able to continue accessing funds, as assistance is likely unavailable from the NIH. Any direct clinical care being provided through the NIH Clinical Center will continue, as well as medically necessary admittance of new patients.
The  system will be operational during a lapse in funding, with limited federal support staff, and will continue accepting applications from prospective grantees. These applications will be accepted and stored for processing when the federal government shutdown ends.