It is characteristic in any given year for Congress to be unable to complete work in the area of appropriations in time for necessary funds to be made available for the start of a new fiscal year each October 1. Instead, a series of short-term continuing resolutions (CRs) are implemented so that government functions can continue to operate. The year 2019 was no exception to this sequence of events. Even until late December when a CR was about to expire, there was no firm assurance that another one one would not be necessary.
Nevertheless, the holiday season proved to be a happier one as agreement was reached on how much funding to provide for a wide range of entities that come under the umbrella of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, which commonly are referred to as Labor-HHS. That piece of legislation was one of eight large bills that made up one minibus package (four national security bills made up another minibus package). The Labor-HHS bill included $184.9 billion in discretionary funding, an increase of $4.9 billion over the 2019 enacted level and $43 billion over the President’s 2020 budget request.
The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) was allocated $94.9 billion, an increase of $4.4 billion above the 2019 enacted level and $16.8 billion above the President’s budget request. The largest increase, $2.6 billion, went to the National Institutes of Health. HRSA (the Health Resources & Services Administration) obtained $7.04 billion, a $193 million increase over the FY 2019 level. Within HRSA, Title VII health professions programs received $424.5 million, a $32.3 million increase over the FY 2019 level, and the Health Careers Opportunity Program was funded at $15 million. The Department of Education was awarded a total of $72.8 billion in discretionary appropriations, which was $1.3 billion above the 2019 enacted level and $8.7 billion above the President’s budget request, with the maximum Pell grant increasing to $6,345.
Moving forward, it is unclear to what extent any meaningful legislation involving social determinants of health, surprise billing, drug pricing, and lowering health care costs will be approved by Congress in 2020. One possible impediment to meaningful action is the necessity of having a trial in the Senate now that House officials have transmitted two articles of impeachment. Once the trial begins, its length could depend on whether both impeachment supporters and opponents agree to allow witnesses to testify. Also, a national election next November will contribute to a compression of the legislative calendar. Apart from determining the outcome to elect a U.S. President, all House members and one-third of the Senate who wish to remain in office must face the voters. As the time of the election approaches, campaign activities necessarily must take precedence over legislative business.
A related consideration is that even in the best of times, the nature of certain pieces of legislation will preclude any rapid action. The Higher Education Act (HEA), to cite one key illustration, last was reauthorized in 2008. That authorization expired in 2013. Now that almost seven years have elapsed and several hearings have been conducted, apart from separate bills currently being championed by members of the House and Senate, the prospect of reaching agreement any time soon does not appear to be on the near horizon.
More Articles from Dec 2019 - Jan 2020 TRENDS
RESOLVING NETTLESOME HEALTH POLICY DISPUTES
Indicates the importance of deciding which groups should be involved in making decisions about controversial initiatives, such as gene editing. Read more
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
ASAHP President Phyllis King discusses Read more
LABOR-HHS FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR FY 2020
Lists funding for certain activities for the Departments of Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. Read more
HEALTH REFORM DEVELOPMENTS
Discusses court rulings involving the individual mandate and also repeal of some taxes that help to finance provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Read more
DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Describes undergraduate pricing at higher education institutions and Department of Education policy regarding cancellation of debt of federal student loan borrowers based on a college's misconduct. Read more
QUICK STAT (SHORT, TIMELY, AND TOPICAL)
Adult Physical Inactivity Prevalence Maps By Race/Ethnicity
Driving Under The Influence Of Marijuana And Illicit Drugs Among Persons Aged ≥16 Years—U.S.
Benefit To Patients Using Wearable Devices Such As Fitbit Or Health Apps On Mobiles
Light-Degradable Hydrogels As Dynamic Triggers For Gastrointestinal Applications Read more
AVAILABLE RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONICALLY
U.S. Investments In Medical And Health Research And Development 2013 – 2018
More Americans Delaying Medical Treatment Due To Cost
Do Advanced Driver Assistance And Semi-Automated Vehicle Systems Lead To Improper Driving Behavior? Read more
A CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF DECISION FATIGUE
Mentions an impaired ability to make decisions and control behavior as a consequence of repeated acts of decision-making that often lead to choices that seem impulsive or irrational. Read more
GEOGRAPHY DETERMINES WHEN A DEATH CAN BE DECLARED
Refers to how incomplete adoption of the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) into definitions of death in states around the nation can result in an individual being pronounced dead in one state, but not dead in a neighboring state. Read more