Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius explained her FY2013 Budget request before Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Thursday. The $76.4 billion request is a $300 million increase over 2012.
The budget proposes maintaining funding for the National Institutes of Health at $31 billion, but implementing new grant policies to increase the number of grants awarded and focus on first-time recipients.
Despite the increase, Secretary Sebelius has said that tough cuts were made to the budget only because the nation’s fiscal situation made them necessary.
Most of the cuts come from payment innovations and other reforms to Medicare, Medicaid and other health programs that will save about $364 billion over the next 10 years. She said the plan will strengthen the programs and protect beneficiaries.