|
Washington, D.C. - Councilmember David Catania (At-Large), Chairman of the Committee on Health, won unanimous passage of the Committee's budget today. The budget passed by the Committee will commit a combined $2.2 billion for the Departments of Health and Mental Health during fiscal year 2008 (FY 08). Moreover, it will serve as a roadmap for the healthcare spending over the coming year.
"There are a number of exciting new initiatives in this budget," said Catania. "But just as importantly, this budget supports the continuation of many successful projects that we've begun over the past couple years." Catania singled out several efforts including: Nearly doubling spending for the partnership between the National Kidney Foundation and Howard University Hospital to provide prevention and intervention services, disease management supplies, and treatment for diabetes and kidney disease; Increasing spending for prostate cancer detection, screening, and prevention by 140 percent; Increasing spending on HIV/AIDS capacity-building initiatives in Wards 7 and 8, including targeted prevention interventions, education and services to high-risk populations, and health education text messaging services for youth; Expanding school health services, including case management services and linking school health suites to primary care physicians; Raising reimbursement rates for residential treatment facilities; Bolstering the District's office responsible for monitoring Medicaid fraud; and Continuing efforts to improve strategic management and maximize revenues within the Department of Mental Health;
Catania said that while the District is to be commended for its investment in healthcare, there is still has room to improve how it spends its health dollars. However, he was quick to note that, "We've made tremendous progress, and I feel better about the direction of the Department of Health than I have at any point since joining the Council." The FY 08 budget marks Catania's third budget as Chairman of the Committee on Health. Over the past three years, his leadership and attention to detail have ushered in a new era of budgeting in the Council. The Health Committee once again adopted a balanced budget and funded numerous initiatives by meticulously combing the budget for inefficiencies and inflated line items. "It's absolutely necessary, if we are to have a defensible budget, to challenge every dollar and make sure we spend taxpayer funds wisely," added Catania. An electronic copy of the Committee on Health report is as follows: |
