The Remington Report

President Barack Obama submitted his proposal for the fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget, asking for a total of $3.69 trillion; the Federal Trade Commission approved the proposal submitting it to Congress for review. The budget plans on fighting waste and abuse of federal agencies through “$250 million in additional resources that, among other things, will help expand the Health Care Fraud prevention and Enforcement Action Team initiative, a joint effort by HHS and DOJ. As a result, the Administration will be better able to minimize inappropriate payments, close loopholes, and provide greater value for program expenditures to beneficiaries and taxpayers,” said OMB.

Obama designed the budget to revolve around investments in healthcare, the well-being of Americans and veterans, education, enhancing the job market, etc.

The budget request for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is $81.3 billion, compared to 2010’s authorized $79.6 billion. On top of the request list is money for Health Information Technology (HIT) development.

“Digitizing the healthcare sector is a critical part of creating a healthcare system that is more effective and efficient. The budget includes $110 million for continuing efforts to strengthen health IT policy, coordination and research activities,” according to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Patient-centered health research has been designated $286 million for the research of treatments to determine what works and what doesn’t. An additional $2.5 billion will be allocated to health centers serving the underserved for primary and preventative care. The proposed amount will not only improve care at existing facilities, but will also fund the opening of another 25 centers across the U.S., said OMB.

In an effort to pick up slack where healthcare has been diminishing, a total of $4.4 billion will increase access to health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Rural healthcare will receive $79 million to strengthen the quality of care through local and regional partnerships.

Other initiatives of HHS are to: combat childhood obesity; increase funding for biomedical research; improve care/treatment/awareness of HIV/AIDS; improve the care of the elderly and disabled through demonstration projects; expand substance abuse treatment while improving identification measures; and enhance the development of medical countermeasures against possible threats and attacks.