Coalition for Health Funding February 4, 2002: Press Release on President's FY 2003 Budget



Home Members Board of Directors Testimony Correspondence Public Health Continuum Public Health 101: The leading Challenges for the U.S. in the Coming Decade	Press Release on President's FY 2003 Budget For Immediate Release February 4, 2002 Contact: Marcia Mabee, MPH, PhD Executive Director Voice - 703-709-3001 Email - mmabee@ix.netcom.com David B. Moore President Voice - 202-828-0525 Email - dbmoore@aamc.org Coalition for Health Funding Applauds Increases in President's Budget for NIH and Bioterrorism Activities-but has Grave Concerns About Deep Cuts at Other Public Health Agencies The Coalition for Health Funding is disappointed in the President's FY 2003 budget and finds many aspects problematic. There is good attention to biomedical research and bioterrorism preparedness, but the Coalition believes the health needs of the American people go beyond protection against terrorist attacks, however critical. The President's FY 2003 budget does too little to support many essential elements and challenges to a healthy America -- America continues to experience high and growing numbers of uninsured individuals and unacceptable disparities in health. Many states are facing fiscal deficits increasing the pressure on existing safety net programs. The nation faces other public health threats such as antimicrobial resistance, devastating naturally occurring infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and others that travel the globe in a matter of hours. Chronic diseases and disabilities such as heart disease and stroke, diabetes, asthma and birth defects continue to rob millions of Americans of normal life spans and quality of life and in some cases are assuming epidemic proportions in growth patterns. Mental illness and substance abuse problems are among the nation's most costly health concerns, but receive comparatively few resources. The safety of the nation's food, water, drugs and medical devices depends on a strong, science-based regulatory entity. As the nation ages, we are losing key members of our healthcare workforce that we all rely on, and that those in medically underserved communities absolutely depend on, for any measure of healthcare delivery. As Dr. Jordan Cohen, President, Association of American Colleges, states, A healthy America is a strong America and provides the best defense against terror. The most effective way to achieve improved health outcomes for a range of health, mental health, and substance abuse problems is to provide strong, sustained funding for a continuum of activity. This budget request proposes deep cuts to areas within HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) as well as substance abuse prevention programs within SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) that are not directly bioterrorism related. In many other areas, funding levels are frozen. These include the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, Preventive Health/Health Services Block Grant, immunization, mental health services, and all domestic HIV/AIDS programs - both treatment and prevention. Of particular concern is the near elimination of the Health Professions program at HRSA which provides funding support for many health professions that are in desperately short supply: pharmacists, allied health, public health professionals, dentists, mental health professionals, podiatrists, as well as nurses." The Coalition supports the President's recommendations to provide historic increases in FY 2003 for the National Institutes of Health and for bioterrorism related activities within the CDC, HRSA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and SAMHSA. In addition, the Coalition recognizes there are important selected increases for the National Health Service Corps, community health centers, nursing education, organ transplant, and substance abuse treatment. While funding for the Indian Health Service is also increased, it is not enough to overcome disease rates among Native Americans. A recent government report shows that all racial and ethnic groups had made improvements in total death rates and death rates from stroke, lung cancer, breast cancer and suicide except for American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Coalition for Health Funding appreciates that the President's budget presentation is only the first step in the FY 2003 budget cycle. The Coalition is working with the Administration, and will be working with Congress, to increase funding in those areas of the Public Health Service that are not well supported in this first step in the process. The Coalition recommends that all health discretionary spending needs to increase by at least $7 billion in FY 2003 to begin to meet the needs and challenges before the nation. The President's budget requests only a $2.6 billion increase. The Coalition for Health Funding is a nonprofit alliance of over 40 national voluntary and professional associations comprising approximately 40 million health care professionals, lay volunteers, patients and families. The Coalition works in a nonpartisan fashion to ensure that discretionary health spending remains highly visible as Congress and the Administration set federal budget priorities. Founded in 1970, the Coalition is the oldest, most broadly based health coalition focused on the budget and appropriations process for discretionary programs. Suite 200, 11479 Waterview, Reston, Virginia 20190 703-709-3001 (tel) 703-709-3003 (fax)
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