AcademyHealth released the following statement:
“AcademyHealth strongly opposes both the substance and the process by which the Department of Health and Human Services announced a sweeping reorganization impacting the health and safety of every American. We are deeply concerned about the potential effective elimination of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a critical supporter of vital research and evidence-based health care practices. The ambiguity surrounding this reorganization deprives researchers and patients of the clarity needed to make informed plans, posing a reckless threat to ongoing and future initiatives.
“AcademyHealth has consistently advocated for three essential criteria in any HHS reform:
- Reform must be developed with Congressional and stakeholder input. This reorganization was crafted without transparency or opportunity for input, leaving many health leaders in Congress and out blindsided.
- It must protect AHRQ’s unique focus on health services research, ensuring patient access to necessary care. The lack of assurances in the announcement raises concerns about AHRQ’s future role and support.
- AHRQ must be adequately funded to fulfill its life- and cost-saving missions. There is no indication that AHRQ will retain the support mandated by Congress, nor that its workforce will be preserved. Alarmingly, the first point in the HHS fact sheet highlights the termination of 20,000 public servants, as if they are the problem.
“These decisions affect real lives and careers, creating an uncertain environment that hinders researchers' and patients’ abilities to navigate future developments. Stability in research funding is crucial for both the scientific community and the broader public who rely on our work for improved health outcomes and innovations.
“Just last month, the Friends of AHRQ just last month sent a letter to Congress advocating for AHRQ's preservation and full funding. This letter was signed by 194 organizations representing researchers, patients, doctors, nurses, health systems, hospitals, insurers, universities, think tanks, and more, clearly highlights how AHRQ is a non-controversial and nonpartisan cornerstone of creating better health outcomes across all health care access points.
“We urge the Administration to recognize the irreplaceable value of sustained federal investments in research, end the uncertainty around the Agency, and work with Congress and stakeholders to improve our health care system through evidence-based practices.”