DeGette, Norwood Lead Bipartisan Push to Save Funds to Promote Health Professionals in Medically Underserved Areas
WASHINGTON, DC - Federal funding for healthcare workforce development and education should not be cut to balance the nation's budget, according to U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Charlie Norwood, DDS (R-GA), and 188 other House members who signed a letter submitted to House leaders of both parties today.
DeGette and Norwood asked House leaders to restore funding to train and encourage health care professionals to practice in medically underserved areas, and to continue efforts to increase diversity in the healthcare workforce.
"Our nation's healthcare safety net is frayed enough without taking away critical programs like this," said Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO). "We must balance the budget, but not at the expense of training healthcare professionals who serve our nations most disadvantaged communities."
"We definitely need to take immediate action to balance the federal budget," says Norwood, "but not at the expense of cutting the number of healthcare professionals available in our most medically underserved communities. This approach may save a dollar this year, but at the expense of costing us ten down the road. That's not a smart way to attack the deficit."
The letter specifically calls for setting spending levels on Title VII of the FY 2007 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill to the amount appropriated in FY 2005. Last year, the FY 2006 bill slashed Title VII funding by over half.
Text of Letter:
Dear Chairman Regula and Ranking Member Obey:
As you begin your work on the fiscal year (FY) 2007 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill, we urge you to increase funding for Title VII health professionals funding to the amount appropriated in FY 2005 (approximately $299,552,000). As you well know, these programs provide direct financial support for health care workforce development and education. In addition, they are the only federal programs designed to train providers in interdisciplinary settings to respond to the needs of special and underserved populations, as well as increase minority representation in the health care workforce.
The FY 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill dramatically reduced funding for Title VII health professions programs, resulting in a 51 percent overall cut below FY 2005. At a time of serious health professions shortages, reducing this resource has already had devastating effects to the country's neediest communities. By restoring funding to these programs to FY 2005 levels, you will enable them to continue to improve the distribution, quality, and diversity of the health professions workforce.
We respectfully urge you to restore funding to the Title VII programs in the FY 2007 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. We greatly appreciate your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Representative Diana DeGette
Representative Charlie Norwood
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/co01_degette/titlevii.html