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Title VII

What we're asking for

We urge the Congress to appropriate $140 million for the Health Professions Program, Primary Care Training and Enhancement authorized under Title VII, Section 747 of the Public Health Service Act in fiscal year 2012.

Why we're asking for this

Title VII Health Professions Programs are authorized under Title VII of the Public Health Services Act. Family medicine grants, which are part of the Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry Cluster (Section 747), include grants for residency programs, predoctoral education, faculty development, and academic administrative units. Section 747 is the only program at the federal level that supports family medicine training programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

Title VII has seen continuous decreases since its highest funding level of $92 million in Fiscal Year 2003. Because of this, CAFM is asking Congress increase the funding of these vital workforce programs. Increased funding for Title VII is necessary to build the robust primary care workforce that is necessary to help contain rising health care costs.

Current status

The Congress passed legislation funding Title VII at a level of $272.5 million for FY 2011, with the Primary Care Cluster receiving $39 million for the fiscal year.

CAFM applauds the President for proposing increased funding for Title VII programs for FY 2012 at a level of $449 million. Title VII section 747 would be funded at a level of $140 million (which includes evaluation fund money).

CAFM is advocating that the Congress fund Title VII section 747 for FY 2012 at the President's requested level of $140 million.

How members can get involved

The House of Representatives is tentatively scheduled to take up FY 2012 L-HHS Appropriations bills at the end of July, meaning there is still time for you to have an impact on FY 2012 Title VII funding levels.

In a few weeks, the Congress is scheduled to take their August recess, presenting a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the importance of Title VII funding to family medicine and the development of a robust primary care workforce.

We sent out an alert to members asking them to set up meetings with their legislators and staff over the August recess, either in district offices or through important site visits, to show why family medicine matters. A copy of the alert can be found here. If you have not made your appointments, please do so.

STFM has provided you with resources to contact your member of Congress and meet with them over the August recess and tell them how important Title VII grants are to your program and the development of a robust primary care workforce. These resources are located below.