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In May, President Trump released his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18). The budget includes deep cuts to many domestic programs, including cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Notably, the President's budget would completely eliminate federal support for preventive medicine residency training programs, currently funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The budget also calls for a $1.2 billion decrease in funding at the CDC, including cuts for immunization and respiratory programs, public health preparedness and response, and infectious diseases. The President's budget is meeting some resistance on both sides of the aisle in Congress as many of these domestic programs enjoy strong support. ACPM is actively working to shore up support in Congress for preventive medicine residencies and CDC programs and will identify opportunities for our members to weigh in with their members in Congress during key intervals of the legislative process.
Meanwhile, progress on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) has slowed in the Senate. Republicans are meeting to discuss a path forward for the bill as they can only afford to lose two votes in their quest to pass a replacement bill. Medicaid remains a sticking point for many moderate Republicans, who are reluctant to cut funding for states that expanded the program. In contrast to the House-passed version, the Senate is more likely to preserve protections for patients with pre-existing conditions. There is still much work to be done before a bill makes it to the floor of the Senate.
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