With a federal government shutdown more than likely on Friday, CMS has issued guidance that says it will fulfill its necessary functions regardless.
The Department of Health and Human Services today issued "FY 2018 HHS Contingency Staffing Plan for Operations in the Absence of Enacted Annual Appropriations" in which it outlined what would be up and what would be down if the Senate doesn't muster 60 votes to keep the government going.
While HHS would "forlough" nearly 41 thousand employees until the budget taps start flowing again, essential functions would be maintained -- and "in the short term, the Medicare Program will continue largely without disruption during a lapse in appropriations."
CMS did not say what constituted "the short term," but it is assumed the agency will let us know when it is up.
(Update: CMS also confirms that "Part B payments will continue in the event of a shutdown.")
In its non-exhaustive list of functions that would be maintained during the shutdown, CMS mentioned open enrollment eligibility verification, Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control, and Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) activities.
"States will have sufficient funding for Medicaid through the second quarter, due to the continuation of authority under the CR for appropriated entitlements, and CMS will maintain the staff necessary to make payments to eligible states from remaining Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) carryover balances," CMS added.