Washington Posts – The Latest: July 2022
Fiscal Year 2023 Budget and Appropriations:
The Senate Democrats released their FY 2023 Appropriations bills today. They have no plans of marking up the bills (passing) in the 12 subcommittees or the full committee. They will at some point – when the overall funding levels have been determined – begin negotiations with the House. Enough (60) Democrats and Republicans must agree on total spending for the year or the final package of bills will not pass in the Senate. Here is Chairman Leahy’s statement about the bills.
The geriatrics funding for GWEPs and GACAs increases by $2 million in the Senate bill. The House bill which was passed by the full Appropriations Committee and its LHHS Subcommittee provides a $3 million increase. The full House has not yet passed the LHHS bill and is headed out of town for the August recess tomorrow. They are likely to return to the Capital to vote on the budget reconciliation bill (small version of Build Back Better) if the Senate is able to pass the new compromise between Senator Manchin (D-WV) and Majority Leader Schumer and the White House. They would probably return in couple weeks. It is hard to know how long they will stay and what other bills will be considered while they are here.
NAGE will advocate for the higher geriatrics funding level in the House bill and coordinate our work with AGS, EWA, and GSA.
This is the Senate Explanatory Statement:
“Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program The Committee provides $47,245,000 for the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, an increase of $2,000,000. This program supports training to integrate geriatrics into primary care delivery and develops academic primary care community based partnerships to address gaps in healthcare for older adults.” From page 56.
Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies:
This is the House Report Language:
Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP).—The Committee includes $48,245,000 for the GWEP program, $3,000,000 above the fiscal year 2022 level and $1,708,000 above the fiscal year 2023 budget request. This program supports training to integrate geriatrics into primary care delivery and develops academic primary care-community based partnerships to address gaps in health care for older adults.
Thank you,
Brian
Submitted July 28, 2022
Brian W. Lindberg, NAGE Public Policy Advisor
202-306-6128 Cell