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HHS News:
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt released today details of the President's FY 2008 budget request to Congress for the department.
The budget proposes total outlays of nearly $700 billion for Health and Human Services, an increase of more than $28 billion from 2007.
"For the past six years, this Administration has worked to make America a healthier, safer and more compassionate nation," Secretary Leavitt said.
"I am proud of the strides we have made in health care through HHS initiatives.
It sets out an aggressive, yet responsible, budget that funds our priorities and helps sustain our long-term commitment to seniors and low-income Americans.
The HHS budget proposal reflects fiscally responsible steps to reform and modernize the Medicare program.
Funding for Medicare benefits, which will help 44.6 million Americans, is expected to be nearly $454 billion in FY 2008, an increase of $28 billion over the previous year.
The FY 2008 budget includes a comprehensive package of Medicare legislative and administrative proposals that will help strengthen the program's long-term viability.
The President's budget proposes to reauthorize State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for five more years, to increase the program's allotments by $5 billion over that time, and to target SCHIP funds more efficiently to those most in need.
$25 million in FY 2008 for treating the illnesses of the heroic responders at the World Trade Center.
The President's budget includes $1.5 million to launch a new Latin America Health initiative to develop and train a cadre of community health care workers who can bring much needed medical care to rural areas of Central America.
Posted on February 8, 2007 07:57 PM
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