House subcommittee approves FY 2017 HHS funding bill

A House Appropriations subcommittee today approved by voice vote legislation that would provide $161.6 billion in discretionary funding for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and related agencies in fiscal year 2017. According to a committee summary, the bill would provide $73.2 billion for HHS programs, an increase of $2.6 billion from FY 2016. Funding levels include $7.8 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, $6.1 billion for the Health Resources and Services Administration, $4.2 billion for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and $3 billion for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CDC would receive $1.5 billion for public health preparedness and response programs, $80 million more than this year; $390 million to combat Zika; $300 million for a new reserve fund for infectious disease emergencies; and $90 million to fight prescription drug abuse, a $20 million increase. SAMHSA would receive $581 million to address opioid and heroin abuse, a $525 million increase. HRSA funding includes $300 million for the Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education program, $5 million more than this year. The full committee will consider the bill next week.