HPNEC: Correspondence - Letter to Conferees on FY 2004 Budget



Home Members Working Group Testimony Correspondence Events Photo Galleries Funding by State	Correspondence Letter to House and Senate Conferees Urging Restoration of Title VII Funding and Increased Funding for Title VIII in FY 2004 Budget September 25, 2003 The Honorable Arlen Specter Chairman Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Chairman Specter: The undersigned organizations write to urge you to fully restore funding to the Title VII health professions programs to at least last year's level of $308 million and accept the Senate-approved number for Title VIII nursing programs of $163 million for FY 2004. The Senate version of the FY 2004 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill eliminates most funding for the Title VII health professions programs, by providing just $21 million for these programs that were funded at $308 million last year, a 93 percent cut. This elimination of funds would irreparably harm the safety net. These programs are the only federal programs designed to train providers in interdisciplinary settings to meet the needs of special and underserved populations, as well as increase minority representation in the health care workforce. Additionally, the Title VII and VIII programs provide the necessary support to address the growing shortages of pediatric dentists, pharmacists, medical laboratory personnel, allied health, nurses, and public health professionals throughout the country. Moreover, the programs help address the geographic maldistribution of providers by training them to deliver care in underserved areas, including rural and inner-city communities. Any decreases to these programs would hamper their ability to continue to prepare an array of health professionals to help fill the health care delivery gaps across the country. We understand that there are many competing priorities in your fiscal year 2004 bill; however, sustaining these programs' funding is essential to ensure that quality care is being delivered in our country's neediest communities. That is why we urge you to restore funding to the Title VII health professions programs to at least the FY 2003 level of $308 million and provide $163 million to the Title VIII nursing programs during consideration of the FY 2004 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill. Thank you for your consideration of this request. We look forward to working with you to ensure the continuation of congressional support for these critical programs. Sincerely, Administrators of Internal Medicine Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine Ambulatory Pediatric Association American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry American Academy of Pediatrics American Academy of Physician Assistants American Association of Colleges of Nursing American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy American Association of Community Colleges American College of Nurse-Midwives American College of Physicians American College of Preventive Medicine American Dental Association American Dental Education Association American Dental Hygienists' Association American Geriatrics Society American Nurses Association American Pediatric Society American Physical Therapy Association American Psychiatric Nurses Association American Psychological Association American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science American Society for Clinical Pathology Association of American Medical Colleges Association of Departments of Family Medicine Association of Family Practice Residency Directors Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs Association of Minority Health Professions Schools Association of Professors of Medicine Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions Association of Schools of Public Health Association of Subspecialty Professors Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine Clinical Laboratory Management Association Health Professions Network Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools, Inc. HIV Medicine Association National AHEC Organization National Association of County and City Health Officials National Association of Geriatric Education Centers National Association of Social Workers National Hispanic Medical Association National Rural Health Association North American Primary Care Research Group Society for Adolescent Medicine Society for Pediatric Research Society of General Internal Medicine Society of Teachers of Family Medicine