House Votes to Eliminate Funding For Preventive Health Fund

On April 13, the House approved, 236-183, a bill to repeal funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund (H.R. 1217). The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the legislation on April 5 (see The Source, 4/8/11).

The Prevention and Public Health Fund (Section 4002) was established in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (P.L. 111-148) to expand and sustain a “national investment in prevention and public health programs to improve health and help restrain the growth of private and public sector health care costs.” Section 4002 provided $1 billion in FY2012, $1.25 billion in FY2013, $1.5 billion in FY2014, and $2 billion in FY2015 and annually thereafter for such activities.

During consideration of the bill, the House approved, by voice vote, an amendment by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) to require the Department of Health and Human Services to post on its website a notice of rescission of the unobligated funds and the amount rescinded.

The House rejected:

• A motion to recommit by Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) to prevent any repeal of Section 4002 from applying to the “prevention, wellness, and public health” of seniors, 189-234;
• An amendment by Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) to require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the impact of funding awarded through the Fund on preventing chronic disease and promoting health, 187-237; and
• An amendment by Rep. Castor to require GAO to study the economic impact of funding awarded through the Fund on states and communities, 188-238.