Congress Extends the Personal Responsibility Education Program for One Year
Last night, Monday, March 31, 2014, the Senate passed H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, by a vote of 64 to 35, which includes a one-year extension of the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) and the Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage (AOUM) program. Passage of this compromise bill ultimately prevents a 24% cut to the reimbursement rates for Medicare doctors (known as the “doc fix”) for one-year and includes an extension for numerous health programs. The Senate vote follows action from the House of Representatives on March 27, 2014, in which H.R. 4302 passed by a voice vote. The bill now goes to President Obama for his expected signature. PREP will then be authorized through fiscal year (FY) 2015, which ends on September 30, 2015. The Administration for Children and Families is currently reviewing how the one-year extension will impact PREP programs moving forward.
The first-ever dedicated federal funding stream for sexual health education, PREP provides states with grants to implement evidence informed or innovative teen pregnancy- and HIV/STD-prevention, youth development, and adulthood preparation programs for young people. Authorized for five years in FY 2010, the majority of PREP funding goes to state health departments, but the program also includes funding opportunities for local entities, community- and faith-based organizations, tribes, and tribal organizations to replicate effective programs or implement innovative methods to reach marginalized and vulnerable young people, as well as dedicated funds for the evaluation, oversight, training, and technical assistance.
As previously reported by SIECUS, both the Senate and House had indicated support for a full five-year reauthorization of PREP in a compromise proposal that also included a five-year reauthorization of the Title V AOUM program. This proposal had been tied to permanent "doc fix" efforts. However, lack of consensus over how to pay for the final “doc fix” resulted in the negotiated abbreviated extensions in H.R. 4302. Further efforts to advance the permanent "doc fix" and full health extension package aren’t likely until after the November 2014 midterm elections in either the lame duck session or in the 114th Congress.
SIECUS thanks PREP champions on the Senate Finance Committee and House Energy and Commerce Committee as well as the leadership in both chambers for continuing to support the inclusion of PREP in the bill. SIECUS will continue to provide updates on the one-year extension and on efforts for future PREP reauthorization as warranted.
