The White House recently released its FY22 discretionary funding request—here’s what you need to know about key health care provisions.
The $1.5 trillion discretionary funding request includes $131.7 billion for HHS—a 23.5%, or $25 billion, increase from enacted level in 2021.
Preparing for the next public health crisis is a key element, with:
- $8.7 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an increase of $1.6 billion over the enacted level in 2021—the largest increase for CDC in nearly 20 years.
- $905 million for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to replenish critical medical supplies and continue restructuring efforts initiated during the pandemic.
- Investment in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to augment its organizational capacity.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) would get more funding ($51 billion) and a new agency. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) would initially focus on researching cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. (Expect a separate budget hearing on ARPA-H.)
Confronting racial disparities and advancing health equity are goals. The request includes:
- $8.5 billion for the Indian Health Service (IHS) within HHS ($2.2 billion increase).
- $153 million for CDC’s Social Determinants of Health program ($150 million increase), to support improving health equity and data collection for racial and ethnic populations across all states and territories.
- $200 million to reduce the maternal mortality rate and race-based disparities in outcomes, including expanding the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies program.
Funding for civil rights enforcement would also potentially be increased. The request asks for $47.9 million for the HHS Office for Civil Rights (24% increase) to ensure civil rights are fully protected within the health care system.
The request increases funding for several other priority health areas—including ending the opioid crisis ($10.7 billion), ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic ($670 million), and prioritizing mental health care ($1.6 billion, more than double the 2021 enacted level).
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra appeared before House Appropriations yesterday. With the bulk of the budget still in the works, his testimony on the numbers was limited in scope and focused primarily on policy commitments. But worth noting: We were happy to hear Ranking Member (and biodefense champion) Tom Cole (R-OK) focus on BARDA and the important work the agency does to develop medical countermeasures. Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) concluded the hearing with a call to reexamine the SNS with specific concerns about transparency.
This is just part one of the process. The request will require congressional approval—and ultimately, we can expect changes along the way, even with Democrats controlling the House and Senate. Furthermore, the discretionary funding request only covers about 1/3 of the budget, and a full budget is forthcoming.
More Health Care News:
STAT News (Opinion): It’s time to get health care value assessment right
“The Biden administration is reportedly considering creating a health technology assessment board to evaluate drug and other health care pricing. But if it doesn’t incorporate essential elements into the definition of value—such as data on underrepresented groups and impacts on health equity—it may worsen the health disparities that many in the health care community are attempting to eliminate.”
