The American Hospital Association is calling on Congress to increase funding in several key areas to strengthen U.S. healthcare.
In a May 9 letter to the Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies' Committee on Appropriations, the association outlined 14 key areas it argues critically need funding support to enhance healthcare infrastructure nationwide. The AHA advocates for Congress' consideration of the following in its fiscal year 2024 budget priorities:
- $1.51 billion for the Health Resources and Services Administration's Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs.
- $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research.
- $210 million in discretionary funding for the National Health Service Corps.
- $45 million for the Preventing Burnout in the Health Workforce Program within the HRSA's purview.
- $738 million for the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education.
- $416 million for rural health programs.
- $610 million for the Hospital Preparedness Program.
- $100 million for the CDC's Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Plans.
- $1 billion for the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant.
- $185 million for the Healthy Start Program.
- $28 million for Emergency Medical Services for Children.
- $10.8 billion for the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration.
- $86 million for the HHS Office of Minority Health.
- $660 million for the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
In addition to the funding increases, the AHA noted that it also supports "removing the prohibition on the use of federal funds to promulgate or adopt a national [Unique Patient Identifier] would provide HHS the ability to explore solutions that accurately identify patients and link them with their correct medical records."