March 23, 2001
HPNEC Testifies Before Labor-HHS Subcommittee
The Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), an alliance of over 40 organizations supporting the Title VII and VIII Health Professions Programs, testified March 21 before the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Jerold Goldberg, D.M.D., Dean of the Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, presented the testimony and urged the subcommittee to support at least $440 million for the programs in FY 2002. The AAMC, coordinator of the coalition, endorses this recommendation.
The testimony touched on the vital role these programs fill in educating and training a well-trained, diverse, and evenly distributed supply of health care providers. Dr. Goldberg also expressed disappointment with administration's budget blueprint released February 28, which proposed cuts to the health professions programs and stated there is no role for the federal government in health professions training as there is no shortage of physicians. HPNEC contended in its testimony and in a March 20 letter to the president that shortages still exist in underserved and rural areas, and the health professions programs are essential to filing these gaps in the workforce.
Information: Erica Froyd, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.
