House committee passes HHS appropriations bill

The House Appropriations Committee last week voted 32-24 to approve legislation that would provide $242.1 billion in funding for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education in fiscal year 2023, a 13% increase over fiscal year 2022. The bill would provide $44 million more for nursing workforce development and $132 million for the behavioral health workforce as part of $683 million more slated for the Health Resources and Services Administration, according to a committee summary. The bill includes increased funding for maternal health, mental health, gun violence and substance misuse, while seeking to reduce health disparities. The full House is expected to consider the legislation this month. (AHA News article, 6/30/22)