On Dec. 6, the AAMC and over 90 members of the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leadership urging them to provide at least the higher of the House or Senate proposed funding numbers for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII and VIII programs for fiscal year (FY) 2023.
The draft House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) spending bill proposed funding the HRSA VII and VIII programs at $1.04 billion, while the Senate draft Labor-HHS bill proposed funding level was $995 million [refer to Washington Highlights, July 1].
“Providing the higher of the two levels is an essential first step in achieving HPNEC’s recommendation of providing $1.51 billion for the Titles VII and VIII programs,” the letter stated.
In the letter, HPNEC members thanked the committee leaders for the proposed funding for the Preventing Burnout in the Health Workforce program, authorized by the AAMC-endorsed Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (P.L. 117-105). The letter reinforced the importance of providing robust funding for the HRSA Title VII and VIII programs and the impact these programs have on our health workforce.
A continuing resolution (CR), which was signed into law on Sept. 30, is set to expire on Dec. 16. The AAMC separately sent a year-end letter on Nov. 4 urging congressional leaders to avoid additional CRs and to include key provisions in the final legislative package [refer to Washington Highlights, Nov. 17].