President Obama released his fiscal year 2014 federal budget proposal today, which includes $639 million for the Title V Maternal and Child (MCH) Services Health Block Grant. This amount represents level funding with fiscal year 2012 and is an increase over the estimated final fiscal year 2013 levels when factoring in sequestration and other across the board cuts. Notably, this funding level is possible because President Obama’s budget proposes to cancel sequestration for fiscal year 2014. Please note the final fiscal year 2013 funding level for the Title V MCH Block Grant is not yet known because agencies are still developing operating plans detailing how they plan to implement sequestration.
AMCHP is also pleased to share that the President’s budget includes a proposed investment of $15 billion over the next 10 years to extend and expand evidence based voluntary home visiting programs, recognizing the importance of this crucial part of many state MCH programs and early childhood systems.
AMCHP is currently analyzing the budget for other important federal MCH investments, such as related CDC funding for state MCH programs. We will share this analysis soon but want to take this opportunity to thank each of you that has helped advocate for these important MCH priorities. This budget proposal is affirmation that our voice is being heard, and we will need your collective voice as the debate continues.
The President’s budget is the first step in the annual appropriations process and is an indication of the Administration’s funding priorities. It is a proposal, and is not signed into law. The Congress will decide on final funding levels during the upcoming year as it develops annual appropriations bills in the House and Senate. However, the President’s budget is an important statement of priorities and areas of emphasis by the administration.
Other important highlights of PROPOSED initiatives and funding levels in the budget include the following:
- The President’s budget cancels sequestration by raising revenues, cutting spending and reforming entitlement programs.
- Cuts discretionary spending by $200 billion by lowering the “caps” or overall amount of funding available in the out years beginning in FY17.
- Includes $327 million for Title X family planning programs.
- Eliminates funding for the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant.
- Uses the Prevention and Public Health Fund to fund the heritable disorders and universal newborn hearing programs at the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
- Significantly reduces funding for the Children’s GME program
- Includes $104 million level funding for the Healthy Start program.
AMCHP will be providing a more detailed analysis of the President’s 2014 budget during the next couple of weeks. Additionally, the final fiscal year 2013 funding levels are still unknown because the President’s budget did not account for sequestration.
Agencies will be releasing their operating plans by the end of the month which will provide detailed information regarding final fiscal year 2013 funding levels. A link to the full budget justification for HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau funding is available here (starting on page 189). A link to the full budget justification for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is here.
For more information contact Brent Ewig bewig@amchp.org or Carolyn Mullen cmullen@amchp.org
Posted 4/11/13