NCSD Federal Policy Update - February 17, 2012
As outlined in an NCSD release earlier this week, President Obama released his fiscal year 2013 budget proposal on February 13. The full proposal, in its many-booked-glory, can be found here.
The proposal shows the President’s continued investment in sexual health, STD and HIV prevention and adolescent sexual health. The Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) received a small increase of just under $100,000 over the final fiscal year 2012 appropriated level. While this level is much lower than the increase of $25.3 million that NCSD and partners will be requesting for DSTDP this fiscal year, in this economic climate, any level of increase is a win.
In addition, the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) received an increase of $10 million, which would restore the cut that DASH took last year. The Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention also received an increase in the President’s budget of $40 million. And as in past years, the budget also included language that would allow grant recipients transfer up to ten percent of funds appropriated for CDC HIV/AIDS, STD, hepatitis, and tuberculosis activities to address the overlapping epidemics of these diseases.
More information on the funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the President’s Budget can be found here and detailed information for funding for the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention can be found here.
The release of this document is signifies the beginning of the yearly Congressional budget and appropriations process. As always, NCSD will be there every step of the way to ensure state and local STD programs receive their necessary funding.
In other federal policy-related news, the final legislative deal was announced on February 16 on the payroll tax extension. This legislation will extend until the end of the year a reduction in the payroll tax, extend unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed, and prevent a cut in the reimbursement to physicians treating Medicare patients. This package is partially off-set by a number of provisions, including a $5 billion cut over 10 years to the Prevention and Public Health Fund. While not the first time the Prevention and Public Health Fund has been suggested as a pay-for, this is a large and disappointing reduction in a funding stream established through health care reform to help shift the focus of the health care system to prevention rather than just treatment. Both chambers of Congress are expected to vote on this bill before the weekend is out.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stephanie Arnold Pang, NCSD’s Manager, Policy and Communications at sarnold@ncsddc.org or 202-715-3865.
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