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Health Professions Education FY 2000 Funding
Current Status as of November 10, 1999
The conference report of the FY 2000 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations
bill passed by the House on October 28 and the Senate on November 2
provides $324 million for health professions and nursing education.
However, this amount includes $20 million for children's hospitals
graduate medical education. When this and the 1% across-the-board cut are
removed, health professions would receive $301 million, a reduction of
about $800,000 from the FY 1999 level. The President vetoed the conference
report on November 3.
AAMC Action
The AAMC supports the recommendation of the Health Professions and
Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) that the Title VII and VIII programs
should receive an appropriation of $316 million for FY 2000. This
represents a 4 percent increase over the amount the Congress appropriated
in FY 1999. The AAMC submitted a statement for the record in support of
this increase on April 15, 1999, to the House Labor-HHS-Education
Appropriations Subcommittee. The AAMC also co-hosted with HPNEC and the
University of Washington a briefing for congressional staff on May 21.
Background
Title VII and Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act authorize a
variety of grants for students, programs, and institutions to improve the
racial and ethnic diversity, geographic distribution, and quality of the
health care work force. These programs are designed to meet the nation's
needs by increasing the supply of primary medical and dental care
providers and public health and allied health professionals, training more
health professionals in fields experiencing shortages, improving the
geographic distribution of health professionals, expanding access to
health care in underserved areas, and enhancing minority representation in
the pool of practicing health professionals.
As this nation's health care delivery system undergoes rapid and
dramatic changes, an appropriate supply and distribution of health
professionals has never been more essential to the public's health. The
Titles VII and VIII programs are critical to help institutions and
programs respond to these current and emerging challenges and insure that
all Americans have access to appropriate and timely health services.
President's FY 2000 Budget
President Clinton submitted his FY 2000 budget to Congress on February
1. The administration proposed $252 million for health professions and
nursing education programs, a decrease of $50 million (17 percent) from
last year. The administration proposed:
- $109 million for the Training for Diversity cluster, a $16 million
increase targeted to the Centers of Excellence and the Health Careers
Opportunity programs;
- elimination of the Primary Medicine and Dentistry Program, which
received $80 million in FY 1999, and the Public Health Workforce
Development Program, which received $9 million in FY 1999;
- $65 million for the Nursing Workforce Development cluster, the same
as FY 1999; and
- $37 million for the Community-Based Linkages cluster, a decrease of
$17 million.
The administration also requested $1 million for Workforce Information
and Analysis.
The administration's request for health professions also includes $40
million for a new Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (GME)
program that will provide temporary financial assistance for GME at
free-standing children's hospitals.
Congressional Activity
After the removal of the GME funding and the 1% cut, the House-passed
conference provides $301 million for the health professions and nursing
education programs. Funding for programs within health professions all
remain at about the same level as 1999.
Contacts
Information: Erica Froyd, AAMC
Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525. |
