As the final races of 2024 are called, and the political landscape solidifies, now is the time to recenter the importance of health services research and evidence-based policymaking. The strength of AcademyHealth and our members is in the creation, dissemination, and implementation of high-quality evidence to deliver better quality health care to all, regardless of who they are or where they live. This evidence remains critical and our mission unshakeable. 

Just last week, Pew released a study that found that 76 percent of Americans express a great deal or fair amount of confidence in scientists to act in the public’s best interests. Our voices are respected because of our rigorous and nonpartisan passion for evidence, and we must not shirk this responsibility in the face of potential challenges. 

Despite a flurry of campaign promises and rhetoric, much remains unknown about the implications on health outcomes. While we know that the incoming Trump Administration intends on having Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. lead the Department of Health and Human Services, we do not know who will lead any other federal health agency yet. In addition to tracking political appointments and personnel changes, AcademyHealth is closely monitoring the following priority areas: 

  • Funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
  • The future of health equity work
  • Public health infrastructure and interventions such as vaccine efficacy
  • Reproductive health care policy 
  • The future of the Affordable Care Act

A Voice for the Field

The challenges that the research and public health ecosystem will face in the upcoming Congress and Administration are daunting, but with greater scrutiny and skepticism is the opportunity to educate and dismantle misinformation. This is the time for our entire field to clearly promote the rigorous, life-saving, and cost-effective work that we do every day. 

As the voice of the field, AcademyHealth will continue to advocate for and inform our community about the landscape in Washington. Next week, we’ll host our annual Meeting of the Members, which will include an advocacy update. We are also planning for a stand-alone advocacy briefing for members prior to the end of year. While normally only available to members, November’s edition of the Read on Washington will be open to all and include more details about the federal policy areas we are monitoring. This will be published on the AcademyHealth blog on November 26. 

As always, AcademyHealth will continue to seek out every opportunity to promote the value of health services research to policymakers, using both longstanding bipartisan and bicameral relations as well identifying new champions. We need our community and champions speaking out and boldly advocating for the importance of research. If you are already a member, thank you. If not, consider joining us by becoming a member and supporting our advocacy efforts. We are stronger together, always. 

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