Academy Urges Members to 'Speak Out' on Federal Budget Funding

Public health programs are in danger of losing funding, and the Academy is asking members to play a decisive role in increasing federal funding levels for those programs and for physician training programs covered under Section 747 of the Public Health Service Act.

At issue is funding for most of the nation’s discretionary health care programs, including programs that train physicians and other health care professionals. AAFP has issued an action alert as part of its Speak Out program, urging members to contact their U.S. representatives and senators by March 12 to encourage them to increase funding levels for budget function 550 by 7.8 percent, or $4 billion, in fiscal year 2008.

Budget function 550 is the federal budget classification that includes federal spending for health care services, disease prevention, consumer and occupational safety, health-related research, and similar activities. Each fiscal year, budget function 550 is used to set funding parameters for physician training programs and other key discretionary health care programs in the federal budget.

Because the House and Senate budget committees will establish the budget resolution for 2008 by March 12, it is imperative for AAFP members to contact their congressional representatives by that date. Academy members are urged to