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Title VII Dear Colleague Letter - We Need Your Help Now!
As geriatrics health care providers, you know, first hand, the importance of Title VII Health Professions Program funding. As you may know, the President's proposed FY 2009 budget completely eliminates all funding for Title VII, including Geriatrics Training Programs. Fortunately, the President's budget proposal is only a blue-print, so it's not too late to act!
Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) are circulating the Title VII Dear Colleague letter in support of increased funding for the Title VII health professions programs. The letter urges House Members to sign a letter asking appropriators to provide at least $300 million for the Title VII programs in FY 2009.
The list below includes those members who have already signed the letter. If you do not see your member on this list, please contact your Representative, let him or her know how important Title VII programs are, and urge your member to sign the letter before March 10th. If you do see your member on the list, please let him or her know that their support is greatly appreciated. You can reach your Representative by calling the U. S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121, which will connect you directly to your House member's Washington office. Just ask for your Representative by name and state.
The following House members have signed the letter:
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Rick Boucher (D-VA)
Lois Capps (D-CA)
Elijah Cummings (D-MD)
Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
Michael McNulty (D-NY)
Collin Peterson (D-MN)
Earl Pomeroy (D-ND)
Silvestre Reyes (D-TX)
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Vic Snyder (D-AR)
Edolphus Towns (D-NY)
David Wu (D-OR)
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Alanna Goldstein at 212-308-1414 or agoldstein@americangeriatrics.org.
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House Approves Omnibus Bill That Includes Funding For Title VII Geriatrics Training Programs
Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs would receive approximately $31 million in federal funds in fiscal year (FY) 2008 -- about 1.7% less than the $31.5 million earmarked for the programs in FY 2007 -- under a proposed $516 billion omnibus budget package the House approved December 17. The package includes the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill and the 10 other yet-to-be approved FY 2008 spending bills. The Senate is expected to vote on the plan today, Tuesday, December 18.
Following amendments to an earlier spending plan that the President threatened to veto, and a 1.747 % across-the-board adjustment, the measure provides $194 million for all Title VII Health Professions Programs -- a 5% increase over FY 2007 funding. Among Title VII programs, however, only the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP), the Centers of Excellence (COE), and public health programs would receive increases under the omnibus spending plan.
For the most part, the $516 billion spending plan stays within President Bush's budget constraints, though it shifts some additional funds into domestic programs. Congressional Democrats initially sought a nearly 7% increase in domestic spending; the President called for a less than 1% increase for the programs; and the House budget plan includes domestic spending increases averaging about 4%, according to the Associated Press reports.
Despite objections from Republican lawmakers, President Bush has indicated that he'll "ultimately sign the measure - assuming up to $40 billion more is provided by the Senate for the war in Iraq," USA Today reports.
Now's the time to visit AGS' Health in Aging Advocacy Center in support of Title VII Geriatrics Training Programs and additional AGS campaigns on behalf of quality healthcare for older adults. We need you and other advocates to voice your support for policy initiatives that can dramatically improve care for older Americans.
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Funding for Labor-HHS-Education Programs and Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs Still Uncertain for FY 2008
Democrats are working on an estimated $520 billion omnibus spending package for fiscal year (FY) 2008, that would combine the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill and the 10 other yet-to-be approved appropriations bills. Funding for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs would fall under the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill.
The current plan is to split the $ 11 billion difference between the total allocation for domestic spending requested by Democrats and that requested by President Bush. The House is expected to vote on the package on December 11. The package will likely be sent to the President by December 14, when the continuing resolution that has been funding federal programs since fiscal year (FY) 2008 began October 1, expires. The President has already threatened to veto the legislation, arguing that it's far too pricey.
Last month, President Bush vetoed the House-Senate conference agreement on the FY 2008 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill (H.R.3043), which included $31.5 million for Geriatrics Health Professions Programs, the same amount earmarked for the crucial training programs in FY 2007. Congress, however, failed to override the presidential veto of the bill.
Now's the time to visit AGS' Health in Aging Advocacy Center in support of Title VII Geriatrics Training Programs and additional AGS campaigns on behalf of quality healthcare for older adults. We need you and other advocates to voice your support for policy initiatives that can dramatically improve care for older Americans.
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House Fails to Override Presidential Veto of Spending Plan Including FY 2008 Funds for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs; Budget Uncertain
In a 277-141 vote late last week, the House of Representatives failed to override President Bush's veto of Congress' $606 billion fiscal year (FY) 2008 Labor-Health and Human Services- Education appropriations bill.
The spending plan would have allocated $31.5 million for Title VII Geriatrics Healthcare Professions Programs, funding the crucial programs at the same level as in FY 2007. Both the House and Senate had approved the plan in the midst of an advocacy effort on behalf of funding spearheaded by the AGS, the Association of Directors of Geriatrics Academic Programs (ADGAP), their members, and other advocates of quality healthcare for older adults.
President Bush then vetoed the bill -- which included $150.7 billion in discretionary spending -- early last week, noting that it included $9.8 billion more for discretionary spending than he deemed acceptable.
In response to the veto, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced plans to bundle the Labor-HHS-Education spending measure and the other 10 as-yet-unapproved FY 2008 appropriations bills into a $484.2 billion omnibus spending package. The appropriations plan would "split the difference" -- of $22 billion -- between the total Democrats have requested and the President has proposed, CongressDaily reports. According to The Hill, House and Senate Democrats plan to hold a "conference on the slimmed-down package on Dec 11 and send it to Bush by Dec.14."
Senate Republicans, however, could derail the omnibus proposal by invoking new ethics rules that allow Senators to eliminate provisions in a conference proposal that did not previously appear in measures passed by either the House or Senate, The Hill reports. Should they do so, "Democrats could lose billions of dollars in additional spending on health and other social programs, but Republicans also could lose spending on their priorities," the Web site notes.
If the budget process founders, Democrats could pass continuing resolutions to continue funding Cabinet departments and federal agencies -- at current, 2007 levels -- for weeks or months, the Associated Press reports.
Many thanks to AGS and ADGAP members and other advocates of quality elder healthcare for joining our most recent advocacy campaign on behalf of FY 2008 funding for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs. Keep your eyes peeled for another Title VII campaign in support of these programs. If you haven't yet done so, please take a moment to register with AGS' Health in Aging Advocacy Center -- so we can send you email alerts about these efforts.
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President Bush Vetoes Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill
This morning, President Bush vetoed a $606 billion Fiscal Year 2008 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (HR 3043) due to its “excessive level of spending.” Last week, both the House (271-141) and Senate (56-37) voted in favor of the bill. The bill asks for 9.8 billion more in discretionary funding than President Bush had requested. It is unknown at this point when the House will vote on the veto override.
The measure provides $212 million for Title VII Health Professions Programs, a $27.3 million (14.8 percent) increase over FY 2007. Geriatrics Training Programs would receive $31.5 million - same as in FY 2007.
Also this morning, the President signed a $450 billion FY 2008 Defense appropriations bill (HR 3222) that includes a second continuing resolution that will fund Cabinet departments and federal agencies at current levels until December 14. Since the start of the fiscal year on October 1, Cabinet departments and federal agencies have been operating on a continuing resolution scheduled to expire on November 16.
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Senate Approves FY 2008 Funds for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs
Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs would get $31.5 million in funding for fiscal year (FY) 2008 -- the same amount they received in FY 2007 -- under a spending bill (HR 3043) the Senate approved October 23.
The Senate labor, health and human services and education appropriations measure passed 75-19 in the midst of a concerted advocacy effort on behalf of funding spearheaded by the AGS, the Association of Directors of Geriatrics Academic Programs (ADGAP), their members, and other advocates of quality healthcare for older adults. The House of Representatives approved an appropriations bill earmarking $31.5 million for the programs on July 19.
The House and Senate are slated to meet next week to reconcile differences between their respective bills. The conferees are expected to reach an agreement quickly. Once the House-Senate conference agreement reaches the Oval Office, however, President Bush is expected to veto the measure. He has repeatedly promised to veto the Congressional proposals, saying they are too expensive. It is unclear whether there will be enough votes in the House and Senate to override a Presidential veto.
The Senate measure would allocate a total of $187.7 million for all Title VII Health Professions Programs, a $3 million increase over FY 2007. Overall, the Senate measure calls for $606 billion in spending on labor, health and education programs -- $9 billion more than President Bush requested. Among other things, the bill includes a $1 billion increase over FY 2007 funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The President had requested a $259 million cut in funding for the NIH. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would receive an additional $224 million and community health centers would receive an additional $259 million under the bill.
Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs -- geriatric faculty fellowships, geriatric academic career awards, and the nation's Geriatric Education Centers - received $31.5 million in FY 2005, but Congress cut all FY 2006 funding for the programs, restoring FY 2007 funding on the heels of numerous advocacy campaigns led by the Society and ADGAP.
Many thanks to AGS and ADGAP members and other advocates of quality elder healthcare for joining our most recent advocacy campaign on behalf of FY 2008 funding for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs. Keep your eyes peeled for another Title VII campaign urging the President to not veto this important legislation. If you haven't yet done so, please take a moment to register with AGS' Health in Aging Advocacy Center -- so we can send you email alerts about these campaigns.
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Senate Expected to Approve FY 2008 Funding for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs
Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs would receive $31.5 million in federal funds in fiscal year (FY) 2008, under a Senate Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations bill the chamber is expected to approve as early as the week of October 15th.
In anticipation of the upcoming Senate vote, AGS has launched a grassroots effort on behalf of Title VII funding. If you haven't yet taken action, please visit AGS' Health in Aging Advocacy Center and help us Urge the Senate to Support Geriatrics Training Programs. AGS continues to educate Congress on the impact and crucial importance of such funding, fighting to keep these much needed dollars in the FY 2008 budget.
After eliminating all FY 2006 funds for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs, Congress restored $31.5 million in funding for the programs for FY 2007 -- in the wake of a concerted advocacy effort by AGS, the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs, their members, and other supporters of quality healthcare for older Americans. Thanks to your past advocacy, a total of 147 Geriatric Education Centers (GECs), clinician educators, and medical schools were awarded Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Program funds, the Health Resources and Services Administration confirmed last week.
The House has already approved all 12 of its appropriations bills, including a Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriations measure allocating $31.5 million for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs.
Because the Senate has yet to pass all 12 of its appropriations bills, and the two chambers, to reconcile differences between their versions of each bill, Congress had to pass a Continuing Resolution in late September, to fund programs at the start of FY 2008 - which began October 1. The resolution funds all programs at FY 2007 levels through November 16th.
The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill for FY 2008 provides $187.7 for all Title VII programs, a $3 million (1.6%) increase over FY 2007.
Once the House and Senate reconcile the differences between their appropriations bills they must approve a final spending plan before sending it to the President. As of mid October, a Presidential veto of Congress's FY 2008 spending plan was expected. What action Congress might take should the president veto its budget plan remained unclear.
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Federal Funding for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs Still Uncertain
Though fiscal year (FY) 2008 began October 1, it's still unclear whether Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs will be guaranteed funding for the new fiscal year. To date, none of the twelve FY 2008 appropriations bills that fund federal programs has been signed into law. As a stopgap, Congress passed a last minute Continuing Resolution earlier this week that will continue to fund these programs at FY 2007 levels through November 16.
The House of Representatives has approved all 12 appropriations bills and its appropriations measure for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education earmarks $31.5 million for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs. That's the same amount the programs received in FY 2007. The Senate, however, has passed only eight appropriations bills, and the bill funding labor, health, human services and education programs is not among these. (In addition, the appropriations bills the Senate has approved differ from the House versions, so both chambers will have to iron out these differences before sending final spending proposals to the White House.)
Now's the time to join AGS' latest campaign on behalf of Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Funding by visiting the Health in Aging Advocacy Center. AGS and the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP) have launched - and their members and other advocates of quality elder healthcare have joined -- numerous advocacy campaigns on behalf of funding for the programs. Thanks to these efforts, Congress - which eliminated funds for the programs in FY 2006 -- restored funding in FY 2007.
In a recent development, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid indicated that the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill may be brought to the Senate floor for consideration around mid-October. Numerous amendments to the proposed legislation are expected, though, and this could delay a final vote.
Once the bill passes the Senate -- as is ultimately expected -- it will go to a House-Senate Conference Committee that will reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions. Conferees could reach an agreement on a final measure fairly quickly and then send the measure to the President.
For its part, the White House has repeatedly promised to veto any Labor-HHS-Education appropriation bill that comes out of Congress if it resembles the legislation the House has approved and the draft bill on which the Senate has been working. Both the House and Senate versions call for billions more in expenditures than the President's budget request.
President Bush vetoed a Congressional measure calling for expanded healthcare coverage for lower-income children under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) on October 3. In light of this, Democratic leaders on the House and Senate appropriations committees reportedly want the Labor-HHS-Education bill to be the first appropriations measure to land on the President's desk. This would put the White House in an uncomfortable position since a Labor-HHS-Education veto would, ostensibly, come on the heels of the President's veto of the SCHIP bill.
At this point, it's unclear whether there will be a sufficient number of votes in either the House or the Senate to override the President's veto of the Labor-HHS-Education measure.
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House Approves FY 2008 Funds for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs In Midst of Ongoing Advocacy -- Spearheaded by AGS and ADGAP -- On Behalf of Funding
Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs would continue to receive funding in fiscal year (FY) 2008 under a spending bill the House of Representatives approved July 19. The measure passed in a bipartisan vote of 276-140 in the midst of a concerted advocacy effort on behalf of funding spearheaded by the AGS, the Association of Directors of Geriatrics Academic Programs (ADGAP), their members, and other advocates of quality healthcare for older adults.
The House bill earmarks $31.5 million for the programs -- geriatric faculty fellowships, geriatric academic career awards, and the nation's Geriatric Education Centers. The programs were funded at this level in both FY 2005 and in the current fiscal year. Congress cut all FY 2006 funding for the programs, but restored FY 2007 funding on the heels of numerous advocacy campaigns led by the Society and ADGAP.
The new house measure would allocate a total of $228.3 million for Title VII Health Professions Programs, a $43.6 million increase over FY 2007.
Overall, the House legislation calls for $607 billion in spending on labor, health and education programs -- about $7 billion more than these programs received in FY 2007 and $10.6 billion more than President Bush requested. In a statement, the White House indicated that the President would veto the bill because of the cost. The Senate is expected to vote on its version of the legislation in the coming weeks.
Many thanks to AGS and ADGAP members and other advocates of quality elder healthcare for joining our most recent advocacy campaign on behalf of FY 2008 funding for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs. We plan further campaigns until the budget process is completed. If you haven't yet done so, please take a moment to register with AGS' Health in Aging Advocacy Center -- so we can send you email alerts about these campaigns.
In addition to spearheading advocacy campaigns on behalf of Title VII funding, AGS staff and its Washington, DC consultants, Wolf Block Public Strategies, continue to educate Congress and Congressional staff on the impact and crucial importance of such funding, fighting to keep these much needed dollars in the FY 2008 budget.
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House Subcommittee Measure Would Guarantee Funding for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs in FY 2008; Thanks to Members, Others Who Joined AGS Advocacy Campaign on Behalf of Funding
Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs would receive $31.5 million in federal funds in fiscal year (FY) 2008, under an appropriations bill the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education marked up this week. The move follows an AGS Health in Aging Advocacy Center campaign on behalf of continued funding for the program. If approved, the measure would guarantee the programs funding at their current level.
Congress eliminated all funds for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs in FY 2006, with disastrous results. Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs include geriatric faculty fellowships, the geriatric academic career awards program, and the nation's Geriatric Education Centers. In the wake of a concerted advocacy effort by AGS and ADGAP members, and the AGS working in coalition with other organizations and supporters of quality healthcare for older adults, Congress restored funding for the programs this February, earmarking $31.5 million for the remainder of FY 2007. FY 2008 begins October 1. Since February, AGS staff and its DC consultants, Wolf Block Public Strategies, have continued to educate Congress and Congressional staff on the impact and crucial importance of such funding, fighting to keep these much needed dollars in the FY 2008 budget.
The House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education bill would boost overall funding for federal Title VII programs 23.6% in FY 2008. It would also increase funds for Title VIII Nursing programs 10.7% and boost the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget 1.9% in FY 2008. According to David Obey (D-WI), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, the bill would provide the largest increase for the NIH in four years.
Many thanks to the AGS members and other supporters of quality healthcare for older adults who joined AGS' Health in Aging Advocacy Center campaign on behalf of Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs funding in FY 2008. Your involvement was and will continue to be crucial to ensuring funding for these invaluable programs. AGS plans to launch additional campaigns on behalf of the programs in the near future, as the federal budget process progresses. If you haven't yet done so, please visit the advocacy center and join these and other efforts aimed at ensuring older Americans access to quality healthcare.
The subcommittee allocations aren't yet a sure thing. The federal budget process begins with the House Subcommittee on Appropriations, which proposes appropriations bills and then passes them to the full Committee. The full House Appropriations Committee then votes on the measures; followed by the full House. If approved by the House, the measures then go to the Senate Subcommittee on Appropriations for approval, then to the full Senate Committee on Appropriations, and, finally, to the full Senate. The House and Senate must meet to hash out any differences between their spending plans and then both must vote for a second time on a final measure before sending it to the President.
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HRSA Posts Applications for Federal Title VII Geriatrics Fellowship Funding to Internet
The Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has posted applications for 2007 funds for Title VII Geriatric Training for Physicians, Dentists, and Behavioral and Mental Health Professionals on the Internet
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This Just In: HRSA Will be Releasing Application Guidance for Obtaining Title VII Geriatrics Fellowship Funding; Stay Tuned (Application For 2007 Geriatric Education Center is Now Available)
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which recently posted applications for Title VII Geriatric Education Center funding to its Web site, will be releasing application information for Title VII Geriatrics fellowship funding shortly. Updates to come.
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Health Resources and Services Administration Posts 2007 Geriatric Education Center Application Materials to its Website
The Health Resources and Services administration has posted application materials for applying for a Geriatric Education Center to its website. As reported last week, the National Association of Geriatric Education Centers has offered advice for GEC Directors planning to apply for a GEC in 2007 and HRSA will be offering technical assistance regarding grant applications at the 2007 AGS Annual Meeting.
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NAGEC Offers Advice to GEC Directors Applying for Title VII Grants; HRSA to Offer Information and Technical Assistance Regarding Grants for All Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs During AGS’ 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting
The National Association for Geriatric Education Centers (NAGEC) is offering information and advice to assist directors of GECs with applications for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Program funds. In addition, the federal Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) will offer staff with GECs and other programs eligible for Title VII funds information about and technical assistance regarding this funding during AGS’ 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting.
A year after Congress voted to eliminate Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 funds for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs, it restored funding for these crucial programs for FY 2007 (which ends September 30). Congress approved the restoration of the funds on the heels of concerted advocacy efforts by AGS, the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP), and others. The funds support the nation’s GECs; Geriatric Training for Physicians, Dentists, and Behavioral and Mental Health Professionals; and the Geriatric Academic Career Awards (GACAs).
On May 3, the second day of AGS’ Annual Scientific Meeting, HRSA staff will discuss and answer questions regarding funding for these programs. The session is slated for 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Room 608-608 of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. Attendees can qualify for 1.5 CME credits or 1.8 Nursing Contact Hours.
The NAGEC recently offered the following information and advice to GEC directors planning to apply for FY 2007 Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs funding:
- While HRSA’s requests for proposals (RFPs) for the GACAs and the fellowship programs are almost approved and should be posted on the HRSA Web site shortly, the GEC RFP is further behind in the pipeline.
- Make sure you have strong and relatively recent needs assessments. Traditionally, GECs have been asked to provide needs assessments that are no more than 2 years old. The HRSA is considering a recommendation that this limit be extended to 3 years. NAGEC expects HRSA to honor the request, but the outcome is still unclear.
- The application will be electronic. Check with your grants or research office to make sure you are prepared for this. You may need to register, so look into this matter now.
- It is still unclear how much time you will be given to complete the application. Look at the GACA and Fellowship RFPS once they are posted to get an idea of what to expect. At the moment, most grants posted on the HRSA Web site allow 30-45 days. However, the longer HRSA takes to produce the RFP, the lower the odds of our getting 45 days to complete our applications.
- The money for successful grant applicants will have to be awarded no later than September 29. Remember that HRSA still has to review the grants and make the awards. The longer it takes for the RFP to be posted, the less time we will have to produce the grants.
- The only guidance we have at the moment is the RFP for 2005. Get a copy and start the process. We don’t know the final budget yet, but $400,000 for consortia and $200,000 for single institutions is a reasonable expectation. Start planning accordingly.
- Remember that your grants office may want the grant a few days early so you may have less time than you think.
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President Signs Into Law Measure Restoring Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Program Funding
In a victory for older Americans and for the AGS and ADGAP members and others who advocated tirelessly for restoration of Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Program funding, President Bush signed legislation last Thursday allocating $31.5 million for the programs for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2007.
The Senate approved the measure -- part of a $463.5 billion Continuing Resolution (CR) funding programs included in 9 unfinished FY 2007 appropriations bills -- the previous day. The House had earlier approved the CR.
The resolution will allocate a total of $184.7 million for all Title VII Health Professions Programs -- 27% more than in FY 2006. In FY 2005, Title VII Health Professions Programs were funded at $300 million. Roughly half of that funding was eliminated, and funding for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs was zeroed out in FY 2006.
AGS has already begun working with Congress to increase funding for these crucial programs for FY08, which begins October 1.
The society thanks its members, members of ADGAP and other advocates of quality care for older adults for joining its most recent campaign on behalf of Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs. In record numbers, members and others joined AGS' campaign to urge the Senate to vote for the CR. Through AGS' Health in Aging Advocacy Center, more than 600 people sent more than 750 letters to 69 members of the Senate. If you've yet to do so, visit our Advocacy Center, register, and stay informed of future advocacy campaigns on behalf of quality healthcare for older Americans. Thank you for helping AGS ensure quality health care for older adults!
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In Wake of Intense Ongoing Advocacy Work by AGS, ADGAP Members, and Other Supporters, House Approves Restoration of Funds for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs
A budgetary Continuing Resolution (CR) that would restore federal funds for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs won the overwhelming endorsement of the House of Representatives in a 286-140 vote Wednesday. Congress eliminated Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 funding for the programs in December 2005, with devastating results.
The $463.5 billion CR, which the Senate is expected to approve as early as this week and which the President is expected to sign, would allocate $31.5 million for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs for the remainder of FY 2007. The programs received that level of funding in FY 2005. Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Program funds support geriatric faculty fellowships, the geriatric academic career award program, and the nation's Geriatric Education Centers.
Congress had already passed a CR that funds federal programs at FY 2006 levels through February 15. The pending CR would cover spending from February 16th to September 30, the last day of FY 2007. All told, the resolution would allocate $184.7 million for Title VII Health Professions Programs in general -- 27% more than was allocated for the programs in FY 2006. In FY 2005, the programs were funded at $300 million, but overall funding was cut by roughly half the following year and funding for geriatrics programs was eliminated.
The Wednesday vote came in the wake of a concerted, year-and-a-half long advocacy push by AGS and ADGAP members, and the AGS in coalition with other organizations and supporters that began in May 2005, when it first became apparent that funding for the programs was in jeopardy. AGS immediately contacted members and other advocates of the programs, urging them to contact their legislators in the programs' support. In December 2005, Congress voted to eliminate Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 funds for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs - with devastating results - but supporters only intensified their efforts on behalf of funding. Since then, AGS has launched dozens of alerts and campaigns urging Title VII grantees, AGS and ADGAP members, and others to contact their Congressmen and the media in support of the programs. To facilitate these and other advocacy efforts, AGS, among other things, launched its online Health in Aging Advocacy Center. Equipped with key messages and additional tools, the center makes it easy to get involved, and get others involved, in advocacy on behalf of quality care for older Americans. The number of active advocates increased dramatically after the Center launched, with AGS and ADGAP members taking advantage of its "Tell a Friend" feature to enlist friends and family in efforts.
Many thanks to all the AGS and ADGAP members -- and other advocates of quality healthcare for older adults -- for your concerted, ongoing efforts on behalf of these vital programs. With your help, we are making a difference.
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House Expected to Vote Tomorrow on Measure That Would Restore Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Program Funding
The House of Representatives' Rules Committee will decide today whether to send the full House a budgetary Continuing Resolution (CR) that would allocate $31.5 million for Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs for the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2007. The full House of Representatives is expected to vote on the resolution tomorrow and the Senate, as early as next week.
Congress eliminated funds for the programs in FY 2006, with devastating effects. The pending CR would restore Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs funding to FY 2005 levels. Title VII funds support geriatric faculty fellowships, the geriatric academic career award program, and the nation's Geriatric Education Centers (GEC).
AGS, its members and other advocates of quality healthcare for older adults have tirelessly advocated for restoration of Title VII Geriatrics Health Professions Programs funding to at least FY 2005 levels since legislators eliminated funding in December 2005.
The CR, filed yesterday by House Appropriations Committee Chair David Obey (D-WI), addresses funding for the rest of Fiscal Year (FY) 2007. Congress has already passed a CR to fund most federal programs at FY 2006 levels until February 15th. The new CR covers funding through the remainder of FY 2007, which ends on September 30th.
The resolution would allocate a total of $184.7 million for all Title VII Health Professions Programs -- 27% more than in FY 2006. In FY 2005, Title VII Health Professions Programs were funded at $300 million. Roughly half of that funding was eliminated in FY 2006.
Other programs addressed in the CR -- primary care medicine and dentistry training programs -- would receive $48.8 million for FY 2007, up $8 million from FY 2006 levels. Funding for these programs in FY 2005 was $88.8 million. Under the CR, a minimum of $24.6 million must be designated for family medicine programs. Pediatric dentistry and general dentistry would receive $5 million each.
This week, keep your eyes peeled for the AGS Health in Aging Advocacy Center's email alert asking advocates of quality health care for older Americans to join our campaign urging Congress to vote for the CR and restore funding for Geriatrics Health Professions Programs. Please help AGS ensure quality health care for older adults!
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