Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee approved its FY 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Bill. We are pleased to share that this bill includes $641,700,000 for the Title V MCH Block Grant, which represents level funding from FY 2017, despite adecrease in overall spending on Labor-HHS programs.
On another positive note, the bill rejects harmful cuts that were proposed to several MCH programs (including the Sickle Cell Demonstration Program, Autism and Other Developmental Disorders, Heritable Disorders, Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, and EMS for Children) in the president’s budget. The bill also includes report language supporting efforts by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau to address maternal depression, neonatal abstinence syndrome, and improved provider and patient education about non-invasive prenatal screening. Disappointingly, however, the bill proposes cuts to other critical programs, including the elimination of Title X Family Planning, as well as the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, and a $74 million decrease for CDC’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (the majority of which comes from tobacco cessation programs). The overall decrease in funding available for Labor-HHS programs across the board is also troubling, as that continues to put pressure on the public health system at large. Full details are located here. (The report language for Maternal and Child Health begins on page 24, a funding chart for all HRSA programs begins on page 178, and CDC programs begin on page 183).
This is an important step in the appropriations process. Next steps are for the full House to pass the bill and the Senate Appropriations Committee to craft its own bill and pass it through the full Senate. In all likelihood, several appropriations bills will be combined and agreed upon between the two chambers in order to pass the funding package into law before the current fiscal year ends on September 30. Thank you to everyone who was able to take the opportunity to advocate for or educate your representatives and senators on the importance of the Title V program to improving the health of women, children, and families – the work continues as we move toward action in the Senate!
Health Reform Update: On the health reform front, the Senate rather dramatically hit a wall this week on the majority party's efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. After weeks of ongoing negotiations, the Senate leadership appears still unable to muster the 51 votes needed to begin debate on legislation. At press time, indications are that the Senate may still hold a vote next week that at this time is not expected to pass but will put all Senators on record. The president is also urging Congress to cancel its planned August recess and continue seeking agreement. While it appears likely that no definitive action is imminent, there is substantial concern about the impact of continued and heightened uncertainty in the health insurance marketplace. AMCHP will continue to monitor and report on this highly fluid situation.