Medical Research:

The President’s budget cuts Medical Research into disease like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and heart disease at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $480 million. • The Omnibus rejects those cuts, providing $613 million above his request. • The President’s budget cuts funding for Access to Healthcare by $595 million.

The Omnibus rejects those cuts by providing $1.1 billion above his request, supporting Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), one of the largest federal agencies responsible for improving healthcare access.

Rural Health:

The President’s budget cuts Rural Health Programs by $142 million.

The Omnibus rejects those cuts, providing $147 million above his request, for grants to help more than 1,200 small, rural hospitals create healthcare networks for more than 775,000 rural residents in underserved communities, providing access to emergency defibrillation devices, and supporting rural health research centers and state rural health offices.

Public Health:

The President’s budget cuts the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by $220 million.

The Omnibus rejects that cut, providing $393 million above his request, for primary public health activities.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):

The President’s budget cuts Mental Health Services by $159 million. • The Omnibus rejects those cuts, providing $189 million above his request.

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill:

Includes language which places a moratorium until April 1, 2009 on six Administration-imposed Medicaid regulations, which would slash federal funding for vital programs and services.

If implemented, these regulations would reverse longstanding Medicaid policies and eliminate federal payments for a variety of critical Medicaid functions.

As a result, they would put in jeopardy needed services and protections for millions of vulnerable beneficiaries, as well as support for critical safety net institutions in states that are financially strapped. 

These regulations would slash federal Medicaid funding to states for vital programs and services by billions of dollars over the next five years.

These regulations would particularly harm children and limit their access to health care. Currently, there are 30 million children dependent on the Medicaid program.