Issues

Health Care

Federal Government Finances National Health Museum (8/29/06)
This three page brief outlines both fiscal and social conservative concerns with the effort to establish a national health museum. 

Durable Medical Equipment and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005
The RSC has prepared this release regarding Medicaid provisions in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (S. 1932), related to durable medical equipment (DME) and ownership of oxygen tanks. The document explains in detail current law related to DME rental and oxygen tanks and the related provisions in S. 1932. In addition, the House Committee on Ways and Means released a document on this topic, which can be accessed at: http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/healthdocs/013106oxygenfaq.pdf.

The 2004 Medicare and Social Security Trustees Report
The Medicare and Social Security Trustees released their annual report on the financial status of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds. The Medicare report shows the fund approaching a deficit and insolvency quickly, with a deficit in the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund by 2010 and bankruptcy in 2019, seven years earlier than last year's report predicted.

• RSC analysis of the Trustees report
• RSC analysis of how the Trustees report relates to the recently enacted Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act
• The "Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003" Conference Report:  Summary
• RSC compares the House-passed version of H.R. 1 and the Conference Report: Side-by-Side 

Medicare: Charts

Why we must reform Medicare: One pager

National Institutes of Health

The RSC prepared a detailed report on certain grants made by the federally-funded National Institutes of Health (NIH):  RSC Report of NIH grants

• For example, did you know that millions of your taxpayer dollars have funded studies on the sexual habits of older men, reactions to pornography, American Indian transgendered people, and Chinese pandas?

The RSC prepared a document highlighting the Clinton-era "Milk Matters" campaign--complete with taxpayer-funded coloring books and stickers--run by the National Institutes of Health's Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Click here to view the document.

Some Key Provisions in U.S. Law Regarding International HIV/AIDS Prevention: (pdf)

H.R. 1298 "United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003" passes the House. (5/1/03)

Amendments adopted:

• Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA), amendment ensuring that at least one-third of the HIV prevention spending be earmarked to abstinence.
• Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) "conscience clause" amendment makes it possible for faith-based organizations to participate in the $15-billion/five-year initiative without being forced to furnish condoms or otherwise violate their principles.
• Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) amendment imposes a ceiling on Global Fund officials' and staff salaries providing that none of the Fund's personnel can earn more than the salary of the Vice President of the United States.

Abstinence Education

• 2002 Federal Sex-Ed/Contraception vs. Abstinence Funding
• Federal Abstinence Programs Policy Brief 
• Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs Policy Brief
• Federal HHS Programs with Teen Pregnancy Prevention Components  

Mexico City Policy : US Involvement in International Population Control and the History of the Mexico City Abortion Policy