McAllister & Quinn Summary: HHS House Bill Impact on Hospitals & Health Systems

On July 29, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives approved its version of the spending bill that will fund the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in fiscal year 2022 on a 219-208 vote. For 2022, the bill provides $253.8 billion, an increase of $55.2 billion – 28 percent – above 2021.

Key provisions include:

National Institutes of Health (NIH) –$49 billion, an increase of $6.5 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level.

  • The bill includes $3 billion to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to accelerate the pace of scientific breakthroughs for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cancer.
  • The bill also includes an increase of $3.5 billion for existing NIH Institutes and Centers, which supports an increase of no less than 5 percent for each Institute and Center to support a wide range of biomedical and behavioral research, as well as targeted investments in several high-priority areas.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – $10.6 billion, an increase of $2.7 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – $9.16 billion, an increase of $3.14 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level. SAMHSA funding includes:

  • Mental Health: $3.16 billion, an increase of $1.36 billion over the FY 2021 enacted level, including an $825 million increase to the Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG), making investments across the behavioral health continuum to support prevention, screening, treatment, and other services.
  • Suicide prevention: $26.2 million for the Zero Suicide program, an increase of $5 million above the FY 2021 enacted level; and $113.6 million for the Suicide Lifeline, an increase of $89.6 million above the FY 2021 enacted level to support the implementation of the Lifeline’s new 988 number.
  • Mobile Crisis Response: Creates a new Mental Health Crisis Response Partnership Pilot Program, which will provide $100 million to help communities create mobile crisis response teams.
  • Substance use treatment: $5.5 billion, an increase of $1.6 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level, including continued funding for opioid prevention and treatment, recovery, and tribal-focused treatment efforts.
    • This includes $2.8 billion, an increase of $1 billion over the FY 2021 enacted level, for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG);
    • $2 billion for State Opioid Response Grants, an increase of $500 million over the FY 2021 enacted level; and
    • $136.5 million, an increase of $56.5 million, for Medication Assisted Treatment.
  • Substance abuse prevention: $243.5 million, an increase of $35 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) – $7.5 billion, an increase of $1.6 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level. The amount includes:

  • Health Centers program: $1.8 billion, an increase of $148 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, including:
    • $50 million, an increase of $45 million, to support school-based health centers, and
    • $25 million to establish the Alcee Hastings Cancer Screening Program.
  • Ryan White HIV/AIDS program: $2.7 billion, an increase of $231 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
  • HRSA’s Bureau of Health Professions programs to support health workforce development: $1.6 billion, an increase of $341 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.
  • $1.2 billion, an increase of $214 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for programs to improve maternal and child health, including:
    • Maternal and Child Health Block Grant: $869 million, an increase of $156 million above the FY 2021 enacted level
    • Alliance for Maternal Health Safety Bundles: $14 million, an increase of $5 million above the FY 2021 enacted level
    • State Maternal Health Innovation Grants: $53 million, an increase of $30 million above the FY 2021 enacted level
    • Maternal Mental Health Hotline: $5 million, an increase of $2 million above the FY 2021 enacted level
    • Pregnancy Medical Home Demonstration: $25 million in new funding
    • Screening and Treatment for Maternal Depression and Related Disorders: $10 million, an increase of $5 million above the FY 2021 enacted level
  • Rural Health Programs $400 million, an increase of $214 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, including:
    • $79 million, an increase of $23 million, to support rural hospitals and
    • $10 million, an increase of $5 million for the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) program.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) –$380 million, an increase of $42 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.

Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA): $823 million, an increase of $227 million above the FY 2021 enacted level.

See What Hospitals & Health Systems Need to Know About the FY22 Budget here. McAllister & Quinn will be releasing subsequent memos and information on congressional spending bills as they move through the FY22 appropriations process.

If you would like more information on the FY22 Budget or how it impacts your institution please contact us here.