House Appropriations Committee releases the draft FY 2013 LHHS funding bill
The House Appropriations Committee released the draft fiscal year 2013 Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) funding bill, which will be considered by the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies tomorrow. The draft bill includes $150 billion in discretionary funding, $6.3 billion below last year’s level and $8.8 billion below the President’s budget request. This funding level is more than $2 billion below the amount provided in fiscal year 2009. The bill includes a rescission of funding for the Prevention Fund and community health centers, as well as a 10 percent cut to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a 9 percent cut to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and cuts to health professions training. The Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program, the Telehealth grant program, and State Offices of Rural Health were all funded at the same levels as FY 2012. Proposed funding levels for other rural health appropriations lines are still unclear. For the draft LHHS funding bill, click here. For updates on the Subcommittee’s considerations, click here. Continue to monitor this blog for updates and developments.