Government
HHS spending bill passes first hurdle
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 20, 2009
The House Appropriations/Labor, Health and Human Services and Education subcommittee on July 10 approved a $160.7 billion spending bill for fiscal 2010. That total is only about $52 million less than the amount President Obama requested in his budget. If adopted by Congress and the White House, it would result in a $5.6 billion increase over fiscal 2009 funding levels.
The Dept. of Health and Human Services would receive $73.7 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal 2010. The subcommittee proposes setting aside more money than Obama requested for the National Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among other agencies. It would provide less funding than requested for the HHS Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (link).
Rep. David Obey (D, Wis.), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said the spending bill would complement a broader health system reform effort this year. "It would be irresponsible not to build the capacity of the health care system to deal with the additional demand that will be created."
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/07/20/gvbf0720.htm.
