House passes HHS appropriations bill

This week, the House voted 219-208 to approve legislation that would provide $119.8 billion in funding for the Department of Health and Human Services in fiscal year 2022, a 28% increase over the prior fiscal year. According to a committee summary, specific increases include $6.5 billion more for the National Institutes of Health, including $330 million more for health disparities research and $100 million more for strengthened cybersecurity. The bill also includes an $8.5 million increase for the Hospital Preparedness Program; $3.14 billion more for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; $2.7 billion more for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including $50 million more for public health workforce initiatives and $150 million more for social determinants of health; $1.6 billion more for the Health Resources and Services Administration; and $646 million more for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The legislation also includes $868.7 million for the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, a $156 million increase over the previous fiscal year. (AHA News article, 7/29/21)