As Congress races against the clock to finalize a spending package to fund government programs and agencies, lawmakers would be wise to prioritize critical health and family safety net programs that help the vulnerable in many of our communities’ access care. While important federal programs can often become casualties in last-minute funding negotiations, it would be unconscionable for Congress to cut programs that help those who have the greatest need for assistance.
There are several key areas where lawmakers should draw the line – particularly when it comes to initiatives to support the health of children, mothers, and underserved communities. It is imperative that our nation's leaders oppose any cuts or reduced funding for programs that form the backbone of our health safety net. Amid times of economic uncertainty, it’s critical to continue investments that keep people healthy, out of the hospital, and able to work to support their families.
Congress needs to reauthorize and fully fund the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan legislation should remain a top priority as it ensures continued federal support for states to review pregnancy-related deaths, identify their causes, and make recommendations for preventing them in the future. With one in eight women nationwide suffering from postpartum depression, and 13 states that have yet to pass legislation to address maternal mental health, there is an urgent need for the federal government to continue funding programs that will help support America’s mothers.
Congress also needs to immediately address the $8 billion in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) cuts hospitals are facing in the current fiscal year, which began in October 2023. This program is absolutely essential for hospitals that serve high volumes of Medicaid and uninsured patients, like Catholic health systems, that continue to face ongoing financial challenges as millions of individuals lose Medicaid coverage as pandemic-era protections end.
Additionally, without adding funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Congress risks turning away roughly 600,000 low-income postpartum women, toddlers and preschoolers from the support they need to live healthy lives. New WIC funds must be included in the final appropriations bill to ensure our nation does not forsake the families who would otherwise qualify for assistance under this critical program.
While keeping individuals healthy and in the workplace should be a key goal of these investments, it is also essential to devote sufficient resources that will ensure our health care workforce to proactively address the challenges of the future. Congress should work in a bipartisan fashion to reauthorize and fund the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education program, the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program, the National Health Service Corps, and the Community Health Center fund. For Catholic hospitals, training the next generation of qualified health care professionals to meet the needs of the communities we serve is essential to ensuring their long-term stability.
Lawmakers also need to ensure the accessibility of care in predominantly underserved areas. Site-neutral policies, being pushed by self-interested players in the health care supply chain, risk compromising access to care in rural areas and undermining the critical role of Catholic non-profit hospitals in serving these communities. These policies should be firmly opposed to protect necessary health care services for patients in communities that would otherwise be at high risk for lacking adequate access to care.
The upcoming spending package debate represents a critical juncture for Congress to demonstrate its commitment to equitable health care access. By prioritizing funding for critical health programs, lawmakers can ensure that underserved communities receive the care they need and deserve.
Catholic hospitals have a long history of providing care to underserved populations, especially women and children, immigrants, and those living in communities facing economic distress. We look forward to partnering with policymakers to foster an American health care system that not only addresses current challenges, but also anticipates and responds to the evolving needs of our nation's diverse communities. In this pivotal moment, leaders on both sides of the aisle must be united in protecting and strengthening the foundation of our health care system for the well-being of all communities.
Sister Mary Haddad, RSM, is the President & CEO of the Catholic Health Association of the United States.
