Linda Young - AHN Editor
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Kick-starting the economy could begin with federal aid to state health care programs, so a congressional panel met Thursday to explore ideas.
The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce health subcommittee listened to testimony from witnesses on the pros and cons of using the health care industry to kick-start America's floundering economy.
U.S. claims for unemployment benefits are at a 14-year high, and the rate of unemployed Americans who are eligible to receive the 13- or 26-weeks of unemployment compensation payments stands at 6.5 percent. So lawmakers are trying to find ways to stimulate economic growth.
Witnesses discussed increasing federal money to the Medicaid and children's health programs that states operate.
Proponents argued that because states are cutting money to programs to balance budgets that federal funding increases could avoid spending cuts and layoffs. But opponents argued that wouldn't create demand and wasn't the best way to stimulate growth.
Witnesses also discussed increasing National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding.
Proponents argued that by increasing funding to the federal NIH that would allow the agency to fund more research at universities, hospitals and medical research groups and would move money into communities quickly. They argued that research money brings broad economic benefits to communities.
However, opponents also argued against that plan saying it wasn't a good way to stimulate the economy.
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