CHA News

House Subcommittee Passes Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill

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The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies held a mark-up of its fiscal year 2013 appropriations bill today, reducing the HHS discretionary budget by $1.3 billion below current levels. If signed into law, the bill would restrict use of any HHS funds to implement the Affordable Care Act and would rescind funds authorized for the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) Program, Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, Prevention and Public Health Fund and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund. The legislation also would eliminate the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality effective Oct. 1, 2012. Members of the California congressional delegation on the subcommittee voted along party lines, with Rep. Jerry Lewis (R) joining the majority to pass the bill, and Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) and Barbara Lee (D) opposing the bill. While the legislation will likely pass the full appropriations committee, it will not pass the Senate. CHA expects a final budget to be resolved in a conference committee.