CHILD HEALTH PROGRAMS NEED ADEQUATE FEDERAL FUNDING
President's budget proposal jeopardizes programs

Washington, DC---The American Academy of Pediatrics, representing 60,000 pediatricians nationwide, is calling on Congress to sustain or increase federal funding for a wide range of programs that help child health. The action follows President Bush's 2007 budget proposal released last week, in which he asked Congress to cut or eliminate a number of child health programs.

"We are disappointed at the short-sightedness of the recommendations and the potential disastrous results of cuts specific to child and adolescent health care programs," said AAP President Eileen M. Ouellette, MD, JD, FAAP. "It's clear that child health is not a priority."

"If we are to be prepared for the next disaster, we need to invest in health care services for children so they can be properly treated," Dr. Ouellette said.

Below are some examples of the programs on the budget chopping block, with the majority falling within the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education (LHHS) category:

Medicaid & State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)-Millions of children receive health care through these two programs. The 2006 budget reconciliation bill, passed a few weeks ago, already cut Medicaid funding and services for children. The president's proposed 2007 budget would cut federal funding again to the tune of $14 billion over five years for Medicaid, and proposes potential changes to SCHIP. The cuts would mean costs would be shifted to the states, increasing the likelihood that states would take steps to reduce eligibility or scale back benefits for low-income families.

Emergency Medical Services for Children program (EMSC)-The EMSC program allows for the development of strong systems and methods to serve the emergency medical needs of children. The EMSC program has been the driving force behind major improvements to children's emergency medical care in every state, and is critical to improving the care delivered to critically ill and injured children. For the second year in a row, the president's proposed 2007 budget would zero out the EMSC program by taking away all of its $20 million.

National Children's Study (NCS)-The NCS was established to examine the effects of environmental influences on health and development on more than 100,000 children across the country over 21 years. The value of the NCS to children's health is incalculable, partly because results could lead to addressing major chronic diseases and conditions such as asthma, obesity and developmental disabilities that cost America hundreds of billions of dollars, and improving the health and well-being of the nation's children. However, the implementation of the study could be over before it even begins if the president's proposed zero funding for the NCS is approved by Congress.

Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (GME)-Independent children's teaching hospitals educate and train about 30 percent of the nation's pediatricians, as well as almost half of pediatric specialists and the majority of pediatric researchers. The Children's Hospitals GME program was established to provide critical and equitable financial support to children's teaching hospitals for graduate education. The 2007 proposed budget from the president would reduce funding for this program from $297 million to $99 million.

Health Professions Training (Title VII)-Pediatricians are educated and trained for ambulatory and community-based sites through Title VII grants. Community health clinics won't be able to provide quality health care if qualified professionals are not trained and available to provide such care. The president's budget proposes to cut Title VII over 93 percent, from $145.2 million to $10 million.

Universal Newborn Hearing screening-Grants are given to states that wish to provide universal newborn hearing screening. Evidence shows that the implementation of universal newborn hearing screening substantially lowers the age at which children with congenital permanent hearing loss are identified. The earlier children with hearing loss are identified and receive early intervention, the more likely they are to perform better at school levels. The 2007 budget proposes zeroing out universal newborn hearing screening grants.

Maternal and Child Health Block grant-The Bush administration often refers program services to the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant program without additional funding for programs zeroed out in other sections of the budget. For example, the president says that there is already newborn hearing screening within the Maternal and Child Health Block grant so his proposal to eliminate it will not cause any harm. However, the president's 2007 budget level funds the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant at the current $693 million, which reflects a $31 million decrease in funding from FY 2005, and leaves little ability for the grant to pay for the increased costs of programs eliminated elsewhere.

The president's budget is a blueprint for Congress, which, through its budget and appropriations process over the next eight months, determines the allocation of federal funds. The Academy will make specific funding recommendations on child health programs to Congress in the next several weeks.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.