Image of male nurse pushing senior woman in a wheelchair in nursing facility

The House this week approved a 2009 omnibus spending package that includes $66.3 billion in discretionary funding for programs at the Department of Health and Human Services.

The funding, which represents a 3% increase from the current level, includes $171 million for nursing workforce development programs, $75 million for state health access grants and $43.5 million for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

HHS and other federal agencies benefiting from the spending package are operating under a continuing resolution that expires on March 6. The Senate could take up the bill next week.