As Congress sets budget priorities for the upcoming year, they will make many important decisions about funding levels for critical health care programs – including those that help prevent and treat heart disease and stroke. It is very important to me, as President of Student Advocates for Public Health and as an American Heart Association volunteer, to remind Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th, that heart disease and stroke are the number one and number three killers in Indiana and to ask for his help in increasing funding for heart disease prevention programs.\nCurrently, Indiana taxpayers are paying more than $590 million to treat this disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funds prevention programs throughout our nation. This program helps Americans lower blood pressure and cholesterol, learn heart disease and stroke signs and symptoms, improve emergency response and quality care and eliminate treatment disparities.\nSignificant budget cuts to the CDC have prevented states like Indiana from being funded because the agency had limited funds for the program. But, heart disease and stroke continue to be a huge health care expense for this state. Unfortunately, additional budget cuts to the CDC are now being considered by Congress. This reduction in funding will cripple these important efforts and delay treatments and cures. Increasing funding for the CDC’s Heart Disease and Prevention Program by $20 million can reduce the heavy financial burden of heart disease and stroke in our state.
Mathew Robinson\nPresident SAPHA, Indiana University\nAmerican Heart Association volunteer
