The longest government shutdown in United States history ended late Wednesday, November 12, with the passage of a continuing resolution (CR) that reopens the federal government and extends funding through January 2026. The signed bill includes key elements that increase the government’s commitment to supporting Veterans and others with Parkinson’s disease (PD):
- A full-year funding package for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which includes $80 million for the VA’s Neurology Centers of Excellence – $16 million of which is designated for the VA’s six Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs). The PADRECCs were created in 2001 to serve the estimated 110,000 Veterans affected by PD by providing state-of-the-art clinical care, education, research, and national outreach and advocacy. They assist Veterans in effectively managing PD and other movement disorders by way of VA pharmacy benefits, physical, occupational, and speech therapies, medical equipment, surgical services, and other valuable resources. This funding package is for FY2026 (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026) and represents a $1.5 million increase in funding for the PADRECCs. “We applaud this commitment to supporting Veterans living with Parkinson’s disease,” said Anne Hubbard, Chief Public Policy Officer for the American Parkinson Disease Association. “We look forward to continuing to work with Congress and the administration to ensure those who have bravely served our country continue to receive high quality care via the PADRECCs.”
- Extension of Medicare telehealth benefits through January 30, 2026. Access to telehealth services has been a lifeline for many Medicare beneficiaries, including people living with PD, who experience barriers to accessing in-person care. While APDA appreciates that the extension has been granted, we will continue to advocate for permanent Medicare telehealth access.
The passage of the CR also enables Congress to continue deliberating on the remaining full-year funding packages, which include funding for programs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD). APDA will continue to advocate for key initiatives in these funding bills, including funding for the National Parkinson’s Project Advisory Council, increased National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for PD research, and restoration of PD research through the DOD’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP).