Final FY ’17 Spending Package Released – Title V Gets $3.5 million Bump
Congress over the weekend reached agreement on a final spending package for fiscal year 2017 that is expected to be approved later this week. We are very pleased to share that the agreement includes a $3.5 million increase for the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant. Details for the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at HRSA are on page 79 here, with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) programs starting on page 82.
The agreement further notes that the Title V increase is directed to the Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS), stating “the agreement provides an additional $3,500,000 within SPRANS and directs HRSA to fund a study focused on improving child health through a Statewide system of early childhood developmental screenings and interventions.” Further details on the proposed study start on page 6 here.
The bill also increases funding for some Health and Human Services agencies, led by a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health. Separate provisions include $1.38 billion for military and veterans' medical research. The CDC gains added funding for opioid abuse surveillance, plus added drug treatment grant funds for distribution through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Notably, the bill includes flat funding for Title X Family Planning Grants ($286 million) with no restrictions on funding for Planned Parenthood.
Why is the Increase for SPRANS Significant? It is encouraging that Congress is demonstrating active and bipartisan support for an initiative intended to “yield a model for other states to utilize in improving child health and development outcomes among diverse populations.” It is also notable that on a bipartisan basis Congress has rejected the recent Trump Administration proposal to cut SPRANS funding and provides positive momentum ahead of an expected budget proposal from the White House for FY 2018 that is widely expected to include deep cuts across HHS. Details on that proposal are expected in the next few weeks and will be shared when available.