Fiscal Year 2004 Appropriations Process Underway
The President released his budget proposal for FY 2004 on February 3, using his proposed FY 2003 budget as the baseline since the final FY 2003 budget had not yet been passed. The proposed budget for the Department of Health and Human Services, which is more than $500 billion, can be accessed at www.hhs.gov/budget/docbudget.htm. Below are some highlights.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- $1.627 billion for Community Health Centers, an increase of $169 million over FY 2003. President Bush has committed to doubling the capacity of community health centers by 2006 by adding 1200 new health care sites or access points.
- $213 million for the National Health Service Corps, a $24 million increase. NHSC will prioritize the recruitment of clinicians from disadvantaged backgrounds including under-represented minorities.
- $11 for Health Professions Training Programs, the same amount as FY 2003. However, the FY 2002 level was $295 million. Several programs were moved to other departments; however, these do not account for the entire loss.
- $2.01 billion for Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs, a net increase of $99 million over FY 2003. The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) may increase by $100 million depending on the final FY2003 appropriation.
- $123 million for Abstinence Education, an increase of $43 million.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- $125 million for the Steps to a Healthier US Initiative. This is an increase of $100 million for new investments to prevent and reduce the burden of diabetes, obesity and asthma-related conditions.
- $1.281 billion for the National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, a $46 million increase for the center; however HIV prevention funding is flat.
- $211 million for Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening, a $10 million increase.
- $125 million for the National Center for Health Statistics, a $1 million decrease.
The budget will support reengineering the vital statistics system and a sample redesign for the National Health Interview Survey
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- $27.9 billion for FY 2004, a $549 million dollar increase or 2%. This is much smaller than increase than the previous five years when 15% increases were the norm.
- $193 million for the National Center for Minority Health & Health Disparities (NCMHD), a $7 million increase.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- $279 million for this agency, a $29 million increase from FY 2003, but still $20 million lower than the FY 2001 budget. The National Healthcare Disparities Report is due this fiscal year.
Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
- $428 million for Refugee and Entrant Assistance, a decrease of $25 million due to the lower than expected number of arrivals entering in the last two years. This program covers refugees, asylees, and victims of torture and trafficking.
- $127 million for Violence Against Women programs, the same as the last two years.
Office of the Secretary
- $47 million for the Office of Minority Health, a $1 million increase.
- $34 million for the Office for Civil Rights, a $1 million increase. OCR monitor the limited English proficiency (LEP) policy guidance.
For more information, contact the APIAHF Policy Division staff:
Gem Daus, Legislative and Government Affairs Coordinator, GDaus@apiahf.org
