Doctors urge lawmakers to fund health programs in 2013

Organized medicine during a March 29 House hearing called on congressional appropriators to fund federal health programs that improve patient care and train physicians.

The American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Cardiology, and American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists provided testimony to the House Appropriations Committee on 2013 funding levels. Doctors urged the committee to support several programs that are funded under annual spending for the Depts. of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Jack Lewin, MD, the ACC’s CEO, urged the panel to approve $32 billion to fund the National Institutes of Health; $3.2 billion for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; and $400 million for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. “Research conducted through the NIH has resulted in better diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, improving the quality of life for those living with the disease and lowering the number of deaths attributable to it,” Dr. Lewin said.

ACOG also supported $645 million for public health programs at the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HRSA services include block grants that focus on reducing infant mortality, delivering services to children and youths with special health care needs, supporting comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care, and screening newborns for genetic and hereditary health conditions.

AAFP recommended that the committee provide HRSA and AHRQ with at least $300 million for the National Health Service Corps, $122.2 million for the Office of Rural Health Policy and $71 million for health professions primary care training.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/04/09/gvbf0409.htm.