Children's Hospitals Welcome Increase for Pediatric Training Funds
CHGME Program Funded at $400 Million
WASHINGTON, DC — On behalf of America's children's hospitals and the patients and families they serve, we thank House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and her fellow House appropriators for allocating $400 million in FY 2022 funding for the Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) program.
The CHGME program supports the training of more than 7,000 pediatric residents annually at children's hospitals and is the most important federal investment in supporting a health care workforce striving to meet the needs of America's children.
The funding increase recommended by the committee represents an important commitment to improving access to care for children and is an important step towards closing the gap between the level of support children's hospitals receive through CHGME and the support provided to train adult-focused residents through Medicare graduate medical education (GME). CHGME recipient hospitals receive just half the amount of federal funding provided through the Medicare GME for the same level of resident training experience.
Like adults, children need access to specially trained health care providers to reach their full potential. Increased funding for pediatric workforce training is especially critical as children's hospitals confront the worsening mental and behavioral health crisis gripping children and youth. CHGME supports the training of most frontline providers who are key to addressing mental health needs in children, both general pediatricians and behavioral health specialists.
We look forward to working with lawmakers in both the House and Senate to secure full funding for CHGME in FY 2022.
About Children's Hospital Association
Children’s Hospital Association is the national voice of more than 200 children’s hospitals, advancing child health through innovation in the quality, cost and delivery of care.
