Stimulus Bill Passed

On February 13, the U.S. House and Senate both passed the the conference report for the economic stimulus packate, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

The bill includes funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that will help create jobs and build infrastructure, as well as fund research.

It also includes funding for diabetes prevention, to help slow the diabetes epidemic in our country while also helping to stimulate the economy. Investing in diabetes prevention now can save us billions of dollars in the future, by reducing the costly complications associated with this disease. At the same time, it provides funding for Health Information Technology (HIT) which will enable you to better manage your health care and reduce "red tape" in the system.

In addition, the stimulus package provides funding to increase access to health care for low-income individuals through State Medicaid programs. Many Medicaid beneficiaries have or are at risk for diabetes. With good primary care for diabetes complications, nearly $2.5 billion in hospital costs could be averted in a year.

Expanding research, encouraging preventive health and wellness programs, and protecting the Medicaid program are crucial to improving our country’s health and financial well-being.