Letter from ANNA and other health care related organizations to Members of Congress requesting increased funding for aspects of public health included in the Function 550/discretionary budgeted allocated in FY 2009
ITS TIME TO MAKE PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING
A NATIONAL PRIORITY
February 19, 2008
Dear Member of Congress:
Our nation struggles with escalating health care costs, growing numbers of uninsured, and the prospect of declining health measured by overall morbidity and mortality. The Presidents budget for FY 2009 continues to seriously underfund and undermine an important part of the solution: public health activities and programs. The investment in disease prevention and health promotion programs for all Americans needs to increase not decrease!
The undersigned organizations urge you to increase funding for all aspects of public health included in the Function 550/discretionary budget allocation in Fiscal Year 2009 by an amount that will: 1) restore funding to public health programs cut in FY 2006; 2) restore lost purchasing power that flat-funding for at least five years has eroded and 3) provide investments that begin to truly meet health challenges facing the nation.
It is estimated that an additional $5.3 billion will be needed in FY 2009 to meet this goal.
These challenges include:
- Biomedical and Behavioral Research: Maintaining a vigorous portfolio of investigator-initiated basic research and pivotal translational and clinical studies to address the myriad health challenges that confront the American people and to develop a stable pool of talented new investigators whose ideas and fresh perspectives are vital to invigorating the research enterprise.
- Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Improving community-based prevention and early intervention activities that address costly chronic diseases, infectious diseases, including those that are becoming increasingly drug-resistant, strengthening public health capacity and ensuring those with disabilities reach their highest potential in function and health.
- Access to Safety Net Health Care Services: Assuring access to basic and targeted health care services for the growing numbers of Americans who lack health insurance.
- Health Professions Education: Assuring that there is a well-trained, diverse health and public health workforce to serve as the foundation for the nations health care system.
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse: Assuring access to needed mental health and substance abuse services for hundreds of thousands who must wait months for care, including Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan; reducing the 15-20 year lag from bench to bedside of promising new treatments.
- Health Services Research: Building the evidence needed to ensure patients get the right care at the right time, every time; providing decision makers with information that will help control unsustainable costs.
- Health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives: Reversing current health disparities for this population that now suffers a life expectancy that is four years lower than the general population.
- Food and Drug Safety: Assuring the nation has a safe food supply and a safe and effective supply of drugs and medical devices.
Our recommendation does not include, but rather is over and above, emergency funding requests.
To respond to this letter, please contact Dr. Marcia Mabee, Executive Director, Coalition for Health Funding: mmabee@ix.netcom.com; Voice 703-709-3001; FAX 703-709-3003; 11479 Waterview, Suite 200; Reston, VA 20190.
Sincerely,
Academic Pediatric Association
Academy of General Dentistry
Academy of Radiology Research
Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research
Administrators of Internal Medicine
Advocate Healthcare
Advocates for EMS
AHEC Program Office
AIDS Action
AIDS Action Committee of MA
AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts
AIDS Project Los Angeles
AIDS Project Worcester, Inc
AIDS Services of Dallas
AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod
Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine
Alliance for Aging Research
Alpha-1 Association
Alzheimer's Association
America's Blood Centers
American Pain Foundation
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry American Academy of Emergency Medicine American Academy of Emergency Medicine
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Health Behavior
American Academy of HIV Medicine
American Academy of Neurology
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
American Academy of Nursing
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Physician Assistants
American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
American Association for Health Education
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
American Association of Anatomists
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
American Association of Community CollegesAmerican Association of Immunologists
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators
American Association of Nurse Executives
American Association of Occupational Health Nurses
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Brain Coalition
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American College Health Association
American College of Cardiology
American College of Clinical Pharmacology
American College of Clinical Pharmacy
American College of Medical Genetics
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Preventive Medicine
American Dental Association
American Dental Education Association
American Diabetes Association
American Dietetic Association
American Gastroenterological Association
American Heart Association
American Hospital Association
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
American Kidney Fund
American Liver Foundation
American Lung Association
American Medical Student Association
American Mental Health Counselors Association
American Nephrology Nurses Association
American Nurses Association
American Occupational Therapy Association
American Optometric Association
American Organization of Nurse Executives
American Osteopathic Association
American Otological, Rhinological and Laryngological Society
American Pediatric Society
American Physical Therapy Association
American Podiatric Medical Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
American Public Health Association
American School Health Association
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Society for Clinical Laboratory ScienceAmerican Society for Microbiology
American Society for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society of Hematology
American Society of Human Genetics
American Society of Nephrology
American Society of Pediatric Nephrology
American Society of Plastic Surgical Nurses
American Society of Transplantation
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
American Sociological Association
American Telemedicine Association
American Thoracic Society
Americans for Medical Progress
Amputee Coalition of America
AO North America
APS Foundation of America, Inc
Area Health Education Center of Southwest Oregon
Area Health Education Center Program Office, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Arizona Public Health Association
Arthritis Foundation
Associated Medical Schools of New York
Association for Clinical Research Training
Association for Prevention Teaching and Research
Association for Psychological Science
Association for Research in Otolaryngology
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Association of Academic Health Centers
Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries
Association of Air Medical Services
Association of American Cancer Institutes
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Association of Chiropractic Colleges
Association of Departments of Family Medicine
Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors
Association of Independent Research Institutes
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs
Association of Minority Health Professions Schools
Association of Organ Procurement Organizations
Association of Professors of Medicine
Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine
Association of Public Health LaboratoriesAssociation of Rehabilitation Nurses
Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions
Association of Schools of Public Health
Association of Specialty Professors
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Association of University Programs in Health Administration
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Asthma and Allergy Foundation
Autism Society of America Basal Cell Carcinoma Nevus Syndrome Life Support Network
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Berkshire Area Health Education Center
Biophysical Society Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Boys Town National Research Hospital
Brain Injury Association of America
Brown University
California Statewide Area Health Education Program
Cambridge Cares About AIDS
Campaign for Medical Research
Campaign for Public Health
Campaign to End Obesity
Canavan Foundation
Cancer Research Fund-VHL Alliance
Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
Case Western Reserve University
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Central RI AHEC
Champlain Valley (VT) AHEC Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Charles Drew University
Chattanooga CARES
Child Welfare League of America
Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine
Clinical Social Work Association
Co-County Wellness Services
Coalition for American Trauma Care
Coalition for Health Funding
Coalition for Health Services Research
Coalition for Imaging and Bioengineering Research
Coalition for the Advancement of Health Through Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
Coalition for the Life Sciences
Coalition of Heritable Disorders of Connective TissueCoalition of National Health Education Organizations
Coalition to Protect Research
College on Problems of Drug Dependence
Columbia University Medical Center
Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service
Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief (CAEAR) Coalition Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project
Community-Campus Partnerships for Health
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Research Education and Support Foundation, Inc.
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Consortium of Social Science Associations
Cooley's Anemia Foundation
Council of Accredited MPH Programs
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
Council on Social Work Education
Creighton University
Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation, Inc.
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Delaware Ecumenical Council on Children and Families
Delaware Public Health Association
Detroit Medical Reserve Corps
Digestive Disease National Coalition
Dystonia Medical Research Foundation
Easter Seals
Eastern Montana Area Health Education Center
Eastern Ohio Area Health Education Center Emergency Nurses Association
Epilepsy Foundation
Eta Sigma Gamma, The National Professional Health Education Honor Society
Expression Analysis, Inc.
Families USA
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Fenway Community Health Center
Fletcher Allen Health Care
Florida Rural Health Association FRAXA Research Foundation
Friends of AHRQ
Friends of Indian Health
Friends of NCHS
Friends of NICHD
Friends of the National Institute on Drug Abuse
Garden AHEC
Gay Men's Health Crisis Genetic Alliance
Genetic Alliance BioBank
Genetics Society of America
Georgia AIDS Coalition
Health Care Council of Orange County California
Healthcare Association of New York State
Hepatitis B Foundation
Hepatitis Foundation International
HIV Medicine Association HIVictorious, Inc.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association
Illinois Public Health Association
In Need Of Diagnosis, Inc.
Indiana University
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research
Institute of Social Medicine & Community Health
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association
International Myeloma Foundation
International Society of Nurses in Genetics
International SPA Association
International SPA Association Foundation
Iowa Public Health Association
Iowa Rural Health Association
ISMRD-International Society for Mannosidosis and Related Diseases
Jeffrey Modell Foundation
Johns Hopkins Institutions
Lance Armstrong Foundation
Lifelong AIDS Alliance
Lowcountry AHEC
Lupus Research Institute
Lymphangiomatosis & Gorham's Disease Alliance
March of Dimes Foundation
Mayo Clinic
Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical Library Association
Meharry Medical College
Mental Health America
Missouri Public Health Association
MN Rural Health Association
Morehouse School of Medicine
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Multiple Hereditary Exostoses (MHE) Research Foundation
NAADAC, the Association for Addiction ProfessionalsNashville CARES
Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, Hauppauge, NY
NASULGC, A Public University Association
National AHEC Organization
National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research
National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Alliance to End Homelessness
National Association for Biomedical Research
National Association for Children's Behavioral Health
National Association for Geriatric Education
National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers
National Association of Children's Hospitals
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
National Association of Community Health Centers
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors
National Association of Local Boards of Health
National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses
National Association of Social Workers National Association of State EMS Officials
National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
National Association of State Head Injury Administrators
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
National Black Nurses Association
National Caucus of Basic Biomedical Science Chairs National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Coalition for LGBT Health
National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship National Coalition for the Homeless
National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
National Council for Diversity in the Health Professions
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
National Directors of Health Promotion and Education
National Disability Rights Network
National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association
National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health National Gaucher Foundation
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
National Health Council National Hemophilia FoundationNational Kidney Foundation National League for Nursing
National Marfan Foundation
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Network of Health Career Programs in Two-Year Colleges
National Organization for Rare Disorders
National Osteoporosis Foundation National Partnership for Women & Families
National Primate Research Centers
National Psoriasis Foundation
National Rural Health Association
National Sleep Foundation
National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association, Inc.
National Violence Prevention Network
National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities, Inc
Nebraska Panhandle Area Health Education Center Neurofibromatosis, Inc.
New Jersey AHEC
New Mexico Public Health Association
New York State Nutrition Council
New York State Public Health Association
New York University Medical Center North American Brain Tumor Coalition
North American Primary Care Research Group
North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program North Carolina Health Careers Access Program
North Shore Health Project
Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy
Northern California Cancer Center
Northern Sierra Rural Health Network, Nevada City CA
NorthWest AHEC
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern University
Ohio State University Medical Center
Oklahoma Area Health Education Center
Oncology Nursing Society
Oral Health America
Orthopaedic Trauma Association
Pacific Health Research Institute
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Parkinson's Action Network
Patient Advocate
Piney Woods Area Health Education Center
Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force Plymouth AIDS Support ServicesPopulation Association of America/Association of Population Centers
Prevent Blindness America
Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
Professional Nursing Alliance
Project Aware at SSTAR
Public Health Association of Nebraska
Pulmonary Hypertension Association
PXE International
Research!America Research Institute for Independent Living
RI AHEC Network
Rural Health Association of TN
Rush University Medical Center San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Save the Children
Scleroderma Foundation
Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation
Society For Adolescent Medicine
Society for Gynecologic Oncologists
Society for Investigative Dermatology
Society for Neuroscience
Society For Pediatric Research
Society for Public Health Education
Society for Research in Child Development
Society for Vascular Surgery
Society for Women's Health Research
Society of General Internal Medicine
Society of Hospital Medicine
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine
Society of Trauma Nurses
South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium
South Central Montana Area Health Education Center
Southern California HIV Advocacy Coalition
Southern Regional Area Health Education Center
Southern Rhode Island Area Health Education Center South Shore Corrections to Community Reintegration Program
Spina Bifida Association
SSHARC
Stony Brook University Medical Center
Suicide Prevention Action Network USA
SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse
Tapestry Health
Texas Public Health Association
Texas Rural Health Association The AIDS InstituteThe American Brain Coalition
The American College of Physicians
The American Geriatrics Society
The American Physiological Society
The American Society for Cell Biology
The Cooper Institute
The Endocrine Society
The Gerontological Society of America The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition
The National Tourette Syndrome Association
The Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative Tobacco Use Reduction Network of America
Trimethylaminuria Foundation
Trust for America's Health
United States Water Fitness Association University of Arkansas
University of California
University of Illinois
University of Kansas Medical Center
University of Maryland Medical Center
University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy Duluth University of Nebraska Medical Center University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health
US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Virginia Poverty Law Center
Virginia Rural Health Association
Virginia Rural Health Resource Center
Western Colorado Area Health Education Center
Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center
Wisconsin Association for Biomedical Research & Education
Wisconsin Public Health Association
Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society
Young People's Healthy Heart Program