You might have missed it but Congress averted a government shutdown last week. While several appropriations bills passed on time for the first time in years, several agencies, including the FDA, were funded on a continuing resolution(CR). The CR provides funding until December 7thand will need to be addressed again by that time. However, the House is now in recess and won’t be back in town until after the midterm elections. So the lame duck session will have a few ‘must dos’ on the list.

On the health care front, the Senate is expected to move the opioids ill to the President’s desk. The bipartisan legislation should provide a small boost to both sides as a bill with political implications moving before the midterms. Following passage, attention will turn to potential regulatory actions from the Administration as well as the upcoming ACA open enrollment.