USA Health Budget Puts Reform First, Says Department Of Health And Human Services

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Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 09 May 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary, USA, highlighted fundamental reforms in President Obama´s 2010 HHS budget. Sebelius cited the rapidly rising cost of health care in the USA and the huge pressures that health care costs are placing in the country´s economic prospects. "This budget sends a clear message that we can't afford to wait any longer if we want to get health care costs under control and improve our fiscal outlook. Investing in health reform today will help bring down costs tomorrow and ensure all Americans have access to the quality care they need and deserve," Sebelius said.

A reserve fund of $635 billion has been set up over ten years to finance health reform that reduces costs, improves quality, and assures health care coverage for all American citizens. Sebelius says that new revenue savings from Medicare and Medicaid will fund the reserve.

As well as improving efficiency and reducing costs in Medicare and Medicaid through health care reform, Sebelius added that higher funding for a Medicare Integrity Program will help tackle fraud and abuse and bear down on those who try to cheat the system.

Sebelius said "We estimate that for every $1 we spend to stop fraud in the system, we save $1.55. The President's budget lays out funding for anti-fraud efforts over five years that we estimate could save $2.7 billion by improving overall oversight and stopping fraud and abuse within the Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug programs."

Sebelius added that quality and access to health care are also crucial factors of President Obama´s reform plan. His 2010 budget raises access and improves the quality of care for rural Americans. It also includes a historic pledge to make health care available for Native Americans. The budget also calls for in excess of one billion dollars to fund an increase in the number of health care professionals, including nurses, doctors and health care workers. The funding should help eradicate health disparities, the HHS Secretary said.

As the USA and the rest of the world are confronted with an outbreak of a new H1N1 virus, and leaders from every level of government, the private sector and both sides of the aisle have come together to respond, Sebelius also stressed important provisions in the President's budget that will protect public health. The budget includes $584 million to help in combat pandemic flu. There is also increased funding for the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

Sebelius added "Whether it's responding to the H1N1 flu virus or the recent recall of peanuts, our department is responsible for keeping Americans healthy and safe, and we take that responsibility seriously. President Obama's budget will help ensure we remain prepared to protect the American people. The investments we made in pandemic planning and preparation allowed us to respond quickly and efficiently to the H1N1 virus in this country and helped get Americans the information and resources they needed early on during the outbreak. New investments in this budget and in the funds that the President has requested in the supplemental will allow us to continue to respond to this new virus, replenish our stockpile of antivirals and start work on a potential vaccine for the fall flu season."

The 2010 proposed budget includes a total of $879 billion for the DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services), approximately $63 billion more than in 2009.

Source - Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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