For Immediate ReleaseWednesday, March 20, 2001
Contact: Eric Bolton 202-785-7929
Tim Elsner 214-706-1340 [email protected]
Statement of Rose Marie Robertson, M.D., President, American Heart Association, regarding President Bush's remarks to the American College of Cardiology Scientific Session
The American Heart Association applauds President George W. Bush for the concepts addressed in his comments to the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 50th Annual Scientific Session, that outlines his Administration's program to address the critical cardiovascular needs of the nation. We are pleased with his plan to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health -- which is a $2.8 billion, or 13.8 percent, increase -- the largest ever. We will also work closely with the President and Congress to advance a strong and effective Patients' Bill of Rights, which includes the right to emergency and specialty care and strengthens the traditional doctor-patient relationship. We applaud the President for making a Patients' Bill of Rights a top priority for his administration.
The proposed NIH increase represents an excellent opening step in this year's appropriation process, but Congress and the President must go even further to keep us on the path toward the bipartisan goal of doubling the NIH budget by FY 2003. The American Heart Association, the ACC and others in the health community advocate a $3.4 billion, or 16.5 percent, increase to meet this goal.
We must remain committed to the quest for new cures and treatments for all diseases, including heart disease and stroke, which are America's number one and number three killers, respectively. Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are responsible for more than 40 percent of all deaths in the United States. These diseases cost this nation approximately $300 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity in 2001.
The American Heart Association also encourages the President to support an appropriation of $50 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Cardiovascular Health Program as well as a $130 million appropriation for CDC's Office on Smoking and Health. We urge the President to support these funding levels since well-funded prevention initiatives, in tandem with research programs, are essential components to ensure the health and prosperity of our nation.
The American Heart Association and others in the public health community look forward to working with the President and Congress on these and other critical public health issues, including:
Medicare coverage of preventative health measures such as cholesterol testing; access to appropriate emergency and specialty care for all Americans; elimination of disparities in care related to gender and ethnic status; a strong national initiative on stroke to improve public awareness and strengthen the nation's health care delivery system for patients affected by stroke; expanded funding for automated external defibrillators; screening, affordable coverage for prescription drugs including life-saving heart and stroke medications.
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