President
Releases FY 2011 Budget President Obama Feb. 1 released his FY 2011 budget. The $3.8
trillion blueprint outlines the administration's fiscal policies
and major budgetary initiatives. The president proposes to freeze
"non-security" discretionary spending - i.e., appropriations
for domestic programs - for the next three years while increasing
funding for priorities such as research and education. For the Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS), the budget proposes $81.2 billion
in discretionary spending, an increase of $2.3 billion (2.9 percent).
President's
Budget Assumes Creation of Fiscal Commission The president's FY 2011 budget assumes creation of a bipartisan
Fiscal Commission. The commission will be charged with recommending
cost-cutting measures across the federal government, including Medicare
and Medicaid, and to return the nation "to a sustainable fiscal
path."
Senate
Democrats Plan to Introduce FMAP Extension Legislation Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Jay Rockefeller
(D-W.V.) Feb. 3 announced plans to introduce legislation extending
by six months the increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage
(FMAP) that states currently receive under the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The FMAP increase under ARRA is set
to expire at the end of 2010. The House Dec. 16 passed (217-212)
H.R. 2847, which includes a six-month extension to increased FMAP
funding.
AAMC Policy
Priorities(PDF)
The AAMC and its members look forward to working with the
Obama administration and Congress to promote policies that
will strengthen our nation's health.
