Almost on my “up is down” list is an alert I got today from the Department of Health and Human Services. It announced a new Web Site dealing with U.S. Mexico-Border Health Issues, emphasizing both sides of the Border.
Not exactly what I expected the Bush administration to come up with at this point.
Actually, the website was announced back in January, so it’s interesting that it is being touted in an alert to U.S. scientists NOW. And, of course, there is the slight incongruity that the website is being run by the University of North Dakota’s Rural Assistance Center (RAC).
I’m sure they have lots of expertise on U.S. Mexico Border relations.
There is some very interesting information on that website. Lots of good stuff on issues about poverty and the need for basic medical and dental care among the poor. And tucked in the middle of all that is an announcement so quiet that I almost missed it:
Cancelled FY 2006 Opportunities
Based on funds made available through the final fiscal year (FY) 2006 appropriation and a redirection of priorities, HRSA hereby withdraws the following programs and announcements from Fiscal Year 2006 competition:
Health Professions
HRSA-06-014 Residency Training in Primary Care
HRSA-06-015 Acad. Admin. Units in Primary Care
HRSA-06-016 Physician Asst. Training-Primary Care
HRSA-06-017 Residency Training-Gen.&Peds. Dentistry
HRSA-06-018 Pre-Doctoral Training in Primary Care
HRSA-06-019 Faculty Development in Primary Care
HRSA-06-022 Health Careers Opportunity Program
HRSA-06-024 Centers for Health Workforce Studies
HRSA-06-025 Rural Interdisciplinary Training
HRSA-06-029 Geriatric Education Centers
HRSA-06-031 Allied Health Projects
HRSA-06-036 Pathways to Health Professions
HRSA-06-111 Graduate Geropsychology Education ProgramHealthcare Systems
HRSA-06-068 Trauma-EMS Systems Program
HRSA-06-073 State Planning Grants Program (SPGP)Primary Health Care
HRSA-06-052 New Access Points in High Poverty Counties
HRSA-06-053 Planning Grants in High Poverty Counties
HRSA-06-055 Health Center Consortia
HRSA-06-056 Healthy Communities Access Program
HRSA-06-058 Operational Network Grants (OPN)Rural Health
HRSA-06-106 Rural Emergency Medical Services Training
And this isn’t even all of the programs on the list.
Of course, do you think running a website is a lot cheaper than actually funding these programs?