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Congress Releases FY 24 Spending Bills

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On Thursday, congressional leaders released their second and final tranche of FY 24 fiscal bills. The six-bill $1.2 trillion package includes funding for the Labor-HHS-Education bill. The House is expected to vote on the funding package today under suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority for passage. A Senate vote on the six-bill, $1.2 trillion-plus measure may come later today, or Sunday or Monday. President Biden has said he will sign the legislation.

The package provides $117.4 billion for HHS. According to a summary from House Democrats, after adjusting for earmarks the HHS bill is an increase of $955 million (0.8 percent) above FY 23. The bill includes $8.9 billion for HRSA, an increase of $54 million above FY 23 (excluding earmarks). The agreement will provide $815,776,000 for the HRSA Title VII and Title VIII programs, which is $8 million (7%) above funding in FY 2023. The Title VII programs for healthcare providers include levels equal to FY 2023 funding for the Centers of Excellence, Health Careers Opportunity Program, Faculty Loan Repayment, Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students, and the Primary Care Training and Enhancement Program. The Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program is provided with a $1 million increase above FY 2023 funding.

The package provides $79.1 billion for ED. According to a summary from House Democrats, after adjusting for earmarks, the total amount is a decrease of $201 million (0.3 percent) compared to FY 23. The bill provides $7,395 for the maximum Pell Grant, same as in FY 23.

Earlier this month, Congress passed a six-bill FY 24 package to fund about 30 percent of the government for the remainder of the fiscal year, through September 30. The package passed 339-85 in the House, 75-22 in the Senate, and was signed by President Biden.

Text of the funding package is here. The Labor-H bill summary is here, the Labor-H explanatory statement is here, and the Labor-H Congressionally Directed Spending is here.

A press release and summary from the Senate Appropriations Committee is here and here. A press release and summary from the House Appropriations Committee is here, here and here.

Call for Applications: 2024 ASAHP Scholarship of Excellence

Each year, ASAHP offers a scholarship program for health professions students enrolled in its member institutions. The purpose is to recognize outstanding students in the health professions who are achieving excellence in their academic programs and have significant potential to assume future leadership roles in health professions. Each student chosen for an award will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The most exemplary Scholarship of Excellence recipient will also receive the “Elwood Scholar” award, qualifying an additional $1,000 in scholarship funds. We are now accepting applications for this year’s awards. The deadline is Friday, June 7.

More information may be accessed here.

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President's FY 25 Budget Request Released

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Today, the White House released the President’s FY 25 Budget Request. As the FY 24 appropriations process is still underway, the FY 25 proposal reflects funding levels in comparison to FY 23 enacted levels. The budget proposes to reduce the deficit by about $3 trillion over a decade. The budget does not provide the type of dramatic increases for domestic programs that was included in prior year budgets due to funding caps installed by the Fiscal Responsibility Act last year. As it’s an election year, there is little chance the FY 25 appropriations process will conclude until at some point after the November elections

The President is proposing $82 billion in spending for the Department of Education (ED), a $3.1 billion (3.9%) increase from the FY 23 enacted level. The Department describes its budget as providing targeted investments within the caps created by the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The Budget would increase the discretionary maximum Pell Grant by $100, and increase the mandatory add-on by $650 for a total maximum award increase of $750 (from $7,395 for the 2024-25 award year to $8,145 for the 2025-26 award year), expanding access and making college more affordable for an estimated 7.2 million students students. Students attending public and non-profit institutions would be eligible to receive the increased mandatory add-on, but not those attending for-profit institutions where the Pell maximum would be $7,495. The Administration’s overall goal is to double the overall Pell maximum grant by 2029.

The budget also calls for eliminating origination fees that are charged to borrowers on new federal student loans.

The budget request proposes a $93 million funding increase above the FY 23 enacted level for HBCUs, TCCUs, and MSIs, as well as a $100 million to expand research and development infrastructure at these institutions. It also proposes offering two years of subsidized tuition to students from families earning less than $125,000 who are enrolled in a four-year HBCU, TCCU, or MSI.

The budget would expand free community college programs through a Federal-State partnership. The Administration proposes two years of free Community College through a $90 billion mandatory program that would create partnerships between the federal government and States, territories, and Tribes for first-time students and workers wanting to reskill. The proposal would provide funding for two years of subsidized tuition up to $4,500 per year for students from families earning less than $125,000.

The budget includes $12 billion mandatory Reducing the Costs of College Fund that would offer competitive grants to public institutions. It would also provide over $7 billion for states to provide access to at least 12 credits of transferable career-connected dual enrollment credits to high school students.

The President is proposing $130.7 billion in discretionary (a $2.2 billion increase from FY 23) and $1.7 trillion in mandatory proposed budget authority for FY 2025 for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The President’s Budget proposes $636.3 million, a $57 million (9.8%) increase over FY 2023 for the Title VII health professions programs, primarily directed to increases for a consolidated set of behavioral health programs ($253.6 million, a $56.5 million or 28.7% increase) and a proposed new “Health Care Workforce Innovation” program ($10 million), that seeks to incentivize the development of innovative new ways to recruit and train health professionals in order to accelerate progress in addressing workforce shortages.

The budget proposes nearly $72 billion in funding for mental health care over the next 10 years, including funding for the behavioral health workforce and technological infrastructure for behavioral health clinics.

The budget proposes $9.683 billion for the CDC.

The President’s FY 25 budget request may be accessed here. Details on the FY 25 budget request for ED and HHS may be accessed here and here. A funding chart from the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) may be accessed here.

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Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Fails to Reach Consensus On State Authorization, Distance Education, and Accreditation

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This week, the Department of Education concluded its third and final negotiated rulemaking session on Program Integrity and Institutional Quality, concerning state authorization, distance education, accreditation, return of title IV funds, cash management, and the TRIO programs. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) covered the negotiations on state authorization, distance education, accreditation.

Details from NASFAA may be accessed here.

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ED Concludes Negotiated Rulemaking on State Authorization, Accreditation, and More

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This week, the Department of Education concluded its third and final negotiated rulemaking session on Program Integrity and Institutional Quality, concerning state authorization, distance education, accreditation, return of title IV funds, cash management, and the TRIO programs. The committee only reached consensus on opening up some of the federal TRIO programs to undocumented students. Thus, ED may put forward its own regulatory language on the various topics.

From Inside Higher Ed:

“The Biden administration can now move forward with its plans to give states greater authority over online programs after an advisory rule-making committee rejected a compromise proposal Thursday.

The Education Department said last week that it wants to change the terms of state authorization reciprocity agreements to give state regulators more authority to enforce their own laws on out-of-state institutions that enroll their residents. Currently, reciprocity agreements allow colleges to enroll out-of-state students online without getting direct approvals from the individual states—and they exempt institutions from some laws in the states where the students are located.

Department officials have said that the current structure fails to protect students and taxpayers by limiting states’ oversight.”

Details are here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here. NC-SARA provides a “Status of State Authorization Reciprocity at Conclusion of 2023-2024 Negotiated Rulemaking Session 3”, here.

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House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee Hearing on DEI

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On Thursday, the House Education and the Workforce Committee’s Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, chaired by Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), held a hearing entitled, “Divisive, Excessive, Ineffective: The Real Impact of DEI on College Campuses”. The hearing was starkly partisan. Republicans primarily directing questions to their three witnesses, while Democrats primarily directed questions to their sole witness, Dr. James Murphy of Education Reform Now. More details are here, the House Republican recap is here, and a recording of the hearing may be viewed here.  

2024 ASAHP Election: Call for Candidates

ASAHP's annual election will be conducted this summer. The following positions are open for the 2024 election:

Board of Directors (three-year term) - 3 open positions

Treasurer (two-year term) - 1 open position

Nominations & Elections Committee (two-year term) - 3 open positions

Applications must be submitted here no later than Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Voting will begin Summer 2024.

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ED Negotiated Rulemaking on Student Debt Relief Reaches Consensus

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The Department of Education (ED) held a virtual negotiated rulemaking session last week regarding student loan forgiveness for those with financial hardship. The negotiated rulemaking session was the fourth and final round of negotiated rulemaking on student debt relief, following three rulemaking sessions on student loan debt relief last year, aimed at debt relief for several categories of borrowers.

Ahead of this week’s session, the Department of Education released draft regulatory text on Thursday, February 15. The proposal listed numerous factors that the Secretary could use to determine if a borrower is eligible for forgiveness due to hardship. It also included language allowing ED to offer immediate relief for those at least 80 percent likely to default within the next two years.

Some language from the proposal was tweaked, and ED added language clarifying that an application for debt relief is not required. Consensus was reached, as there was no dissent among members of the negotiated rulemaking committee. While most representatives on the negotiated rulemaking committee gave a thumbs up, the representative for for-profit institutions gave a sideways thumb, and the representative for servicers abstained.

The Department has previously said it aims to release the plans for public comment in May. Rules finalized by November 1 go into effect July 1 of the following year. ED could take action to implement provisions of the final rule earlier, using its authority under the Higher Education Act (HEA). Legal challenges are expected. ED’s negotiated rulemaking page may be accessed here.

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Webinar: The Changing Landscape for Health Professions Education: Part 1 – Upheaval in Higher Education

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This is part 1 of a 2-part webinar series looking at the challenges health professions education programs face as the higher education landscape changes.  In this session, we explore the history of disruptive change in higher education and the disruptive forces currently at play.  We provide real-world examples of these disruptive forces in health professions education colleges and provide suggestions to help leaders prepare for the future. In part 2 (fall 2024) we will focus on the changing student population and their needs, challenges, and opportunities.

Speakers

Stacy Jaffee Gropack, PT, PhD, FASAHP
Dean, School of Health Professions
Stony Brook University

Susan Gordon-Hickey, AuD, PhD, FASAHP
Dean, Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions
University of South Alabama

Moderator: Mark Merrick, PhD, AT, ATC, FNATA, FNAP
Dean, College of Health and Human Services
University of Toledo

Register Here

Revealing Disparities: Health Care Workers’ Observations of Discrimination Against Patients

An Issue Brief from the Commonwealth Fund discusses how discrimination against patients in health care settings on the basis of race, ethnicity, or language can negatively impact quality of care and health outcomes. 

The Brief can be obtained at https://www.commonwealthfund.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/Fernandez_AARC_health_workers_survey_discrimination_PR_2024-02-15.pdf.

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Call for Proposals - Interprofesional Innovation Grant Program

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The Interprofessional Committee (IPC) of the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) developed the Interprofessional Innovation Grant (IIG) Program to provide support for interprofessional collaboration research among the ASAHP membership. The intent is to provide recipients a competitive edge in securing additional funding by supporting pilot projects and further developing grantsmanship skill sets. The intent of the IIG Program is that proposals submitted can be used to develop larger, more extensive interprofessional research projects that further engage faculty and ASAHP members in research endeavors.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Faculty at ASAHP Institutions in good standing

AWARD AMOUNT: We expect to fund 3 awards up to $2,000 per award

PROJECT PERIOD: September 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025

GRANT PERIOD: Up to 9 months

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  June 3, 2024

Learn more and apply here.

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NC-SARA to Host Webinar on U.S. Department of Education Negotiated Rulemaking

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On Thursday, March 21, from 2-3pm Eastern, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) will host a webinar on the implications for SARA-participating institutions as well as SARA member states and territories of the 2021-2022 negotiated rulemaking final regulations published by the U. S. Department of Education in October 2023, with a particular focus on certification procedures related to institutional closure. Presenters will also provide an update on the 2023-2024 negotiated rulemaking, again focusing on topics that may have the greatest impact on SARA. 

More details and a link to register may be accessed here.

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Call for Proposals: 2024 ASAHP Interprofessional Collaboration Grant

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The Interprofessional Collaboration Grant, created by ASAHP’s Research, Discovery, and Innovation Committee, supports innovative research projects with the highest potential to produce new knowledge and paradigms towards success in interprofessional collaboration. Projects should involve at least two and preferably more health professions. The most competitive applications will be designed as scalable projects with potential outcomes which can be broadly applied and implemented by ASAHP member institutions.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: The Principal Investigator (PI) must be a full-time faculty in an ASAHP member institution. Applicants may serve as PI on only one grant application. Only one application may be submitted per ASAHP Member Institution.

AWARD AMOUNT: We expect to fund 2-3 awards up to $30,000 per award

GRANT PERIOD: September 1, 2024 - August 31, 2025

APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 3, 2024

Learn more and apply here.

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House Education Committee Democrats Announce their HEA Reauthorization Roadmap

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Today, House Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) announced Committee Democrat’s Roadmap to College Student Success, their legislative blueprint for Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization. Currently, the roadmap consists of six previously introduced bills addressing college affordability, access, and student support. Committee Democrats plan to introduce additional related legislation in the coming months. Tomorrow, the Committee, under Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC), will markup the College Cost Reduction Act, an HEA reauthorization bill from Committee Republicans.

The announcement may be accessed here. 

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ASAHP Joins HPNEC Joint Letter to Congressional Appropriators on FY 24 Funding

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ASAHP joined the HPNEC coalition in a letter sent today to congressional appropriators, urging them to work in a bipartisan manner to provide the highest possible funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs for fiscal year (FY) 2024. At a minimum, HPNEC members recommended that appropriators start with the $877.8 million funding level proposed in the Senate's FY 24 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill.

The letter may be accessed here.

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Department of Education Request for Information Regarding Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Needs in Higher Education

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On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education released a request for information in the form of written comments that may include information, research, and suggestions regarding supporting student mental health and/or substance use disorder (behavioral health) needs in higher education. Comments must be received no later than February 25.

The request may be accessed here.

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College Cost Reduction Act House Committee Markup Scheduled for Wednesday

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The House Education and the Workforce Committee has scheduled a markup of the College Cost Reduction Act for Wednesday, January 31 at 10:15am Eastern. The bill addresses accreditation, Pell grants, student loans, regulatory relief, and more. The bill is one of several expected in the Committee to address Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization. It was introduced by House Education and the Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC) earlier this month.

The markup may be viewed live here.

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Applications Now Open for ASAHP's Annual Interprofessional Award

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Through the Award for Institutional Excellence and Innovation in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Health Care, ASAHP looks to recognize a member institution and/or industry member for outstanding achievement in IPE and IPCP. In addition to the award, several institutions will also be recognized as “Programs of Merit” by ASAHP.

Candidates for this award must be ASAHP members and should demonstrate outstanding achievement in the following areas:

  1. Initiatives are inclusive and comprehensive in scope in the preparation of collaboration-ready health professionals.

  2. Initiatives are strongly committed to assessment of outcomes and dissemination of scholarship.

  3. Initiatives are strongly connected to their Institution’s mission and culture.

  4. Initiatives are connected to external stakeholders in the community.

  5. Initiatives promote personal, community and population health.

  6. Initiatives advocate for social justice and address social determinants of health.

Learn more about the award and view the application here.