Rejecting much of President Trump's call to cut overall government spending, lawmakers this week unveiled a $1.3 trillion spending bill to fund the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. While AGS experts continue to review the 2,000-page proposal, we are initially pleased to see funding increases for key programs, including those for workforce training, research, and aging services encompassed by the Older Americans Act. Averting a government shutdown, the bill passed both Houses of Congress and was signed by the President before the current Continuing Resolution (which has funded the federal government since early February) expires at midnight tonight.
- INCREASES FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING: The bill includes $40.7 million for the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), an increase of $2 million over FY 2017. Overall, the bill provides increases across the board for the majority of the workforce programs under Title VII and Title VIII, with a 19 percent bump over FY 2017. The AGS continues to work on reauthorization of the Title VII and VIII Geriatrics Health Professions programs, with a focus on sustaining the GWEPS and restoring the Geriatric Academic Career Awards.
- RECOGNITION FOR THE VALUE OF RESEARCH: The National Institutes of Health received an unprecedented $3 billion budget increase for a total of $37 billion. The National Institute on Aging received $2.5 billion for FY 2018 (a bump of more than $500 million over FY 2017 levels). Alzheimer's/dementia research funding within NIH was increased by $414 million for a total of $1.8 billion (a 29 percent increase). The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also received funding increases
- Keeping Geriatric Research a Priority at the VA: The bill also provides $722 million (an increase of $47 million or 6.5 percent over FY 2017) for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Prosthetic Research Program. Importantly, the bill includes report language championed by the AGS reinforcing the VA's growing need to prioritize research on complex and chronic conditions to improve care for our older veterans.
- SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR US ALL AS WE AGE: The bill also increases funding for programs under the Older Americans Act, including $385 million for Home and Community-Based Supportive Services, $736 million for Nutrition Services, and $180 million for the Family Caregiver Support program—all increases of between 7 and 20 percent compared to 2017. With funding at $20.1 million, the bill slightly boosts support compared to 2017 for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Neglect programs, and also provides $15.8 million for the Elder Justice Initiative.
- PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH: Despite serving as an ongoing target for spending cuts, the Prevention and Public Health Fund—created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as the nation's first mandatory funding stream to improving our national public health system—will receive level funding for several initiatives geared toward older adults, including the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (funded with $8 million) and the Elder Falls Prevention program (funded with $5 million). The Alzheimer's Disease Program, which focuses on outreach, awareness, long-term care services and support for people living with certain types of dementia, will receive a $4 million funding increase over 2017, for a total budget of $23.5 million. The bill also maintains funding for block grant programs that support older adults through community-based organizations—a key win after the Trump Administration hinted at eliminating funding completely for these important platforms.
Given the current political climate and the President's previously proposed cuts, this budget appears to be a big win for older adults, caregivers, and geriatrics. While FY 2018 may finally be in the books, we need to keep up the advocacy, as work will now commence on appropriations for FY 2019 (which begins on October 1). Be on the lookout for AGS advocacy opportunities around ensuring adequate funding for workforce training programs, aging research initiatives, and key services that impact quality care for older people.
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