In today’s issue, we spotlight the growing media coverage of AHRQ's essential contributions and continue to call on our community to contact Congress to emphasize AHRQ’s value. We also note the recent closure of the Long COVID office as well as a Supreme Court case affecting federal workers. Finally, we draw attention to a Senate forum happening today that will address the impacts of NIH funding cuts on life-saving research initiatives. Live stream details are included below.
In today’s issue:
- On the AcademyHealth Blog: Exploring the Reach and Impact of AHRQ
- Take Action: Demand Any HHS Reforms are Transparent and Strategic
- AHRQ Discussed on The Ezra Klein Show
- HHS Shuts Down Long COVID Office, Sparking Outcry
- Supreme Court Asked to Review Federal Workers Case
- U.S. Senators to Hold Forum Today on NIH Cuts and Impact on Life-Saving Research
- Inside Access: Members-Only Insights in 'Read on Washington'
On the AcademyHealth Blog: Exploring the Reach and Impact of AHRQ
We launched a new AcademyHealth blog series spotlighting the value of AHRQ to our health system, including its critical work to reduce health care costs, and improve health outcomes. Through a series of four posts, experts at AcademyHealth will examine how AHRQ is essential to delivering high quality care, especially to those in rural areas, translating evidence into action, and improving preventive services and reducing medical errors to save money and lives. Read the first post in the series “What's in a name? For the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, it’s Everything” and stay tuned for more.
Take Action: Demand Any HHS Reforms are Transparent and Strategic
The most impactful action you can take to support the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is to directly contact your congressional representatives. Congress needs to hear from constituents like you about the importance of preserving and fully funding AHRQ. AcademyHealth created a "Stand with AHRQ Toolkit" to equip our community with the necessary tools to advocate for AHRQ. This comprehensive resource includes:
- Instructions for Contacting Congress
- Sample Email Script
- Messaging Guidance
- Sample Social Media Posts
- Social Media Images
- Other Resources
Access the toolkit and begin advocating for AHRQ now.
AHRQ Discussed on The Ezra Klein Show
On the March 25 edition of The Ezra Klein Show, Santi Ruiz, a senior editor at the Institute for Progress, examines what DOGE has been trying to accomplish in its first few months. The conversation recognizes AHRQ (at about minute 16) for its vital work in producing research to enhance health care outcomes and reduce avoidable deaths, underscoring the importance of evidence-based practices in health care systems.
"One example is the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality — this little agency within Health and Human Services that produces a lot of research about avoidable deaths in the health care system, which the incoming F.D.A. commissioner thinks is the third largest cause of death in the U.S.,” says Ruiz during the conversation. “It tries to get hospitals to adopt best practices, to make it easier to share information about what you’re doing without being punished so that you can kind of better assess what is leading to death in hospitals. DOGE wants to zero that out. It’s a cost center on the budget."
While DOGE's efforts to streamline government are noted, there's an expressed hope that essential functions like AHRQ's remain supported, given their significant contributions to public health and the development of effective health care policies. This discussion highlights the ongoing balance between efficiency and the need to preserve valuable governmental knowledge and capabilities.
HHS Shuts Down Long COVID Office, Sparking Outcry
The Trump administration has announced the closure of the HHS Office of Long COVID Research and Practice, according to an internal email as reported by POLITICO. The office, established in 2023, had been pivotal in advancing understanding and resources for individuals living with Long COVID. Staff are uncertain about their future roles within the federal government as the closure could lead to coordination issues and increased health care costs over time. Patient advocates and former officials have criticized the decision, stating it undermines previous commitments to prioritize chronic disease management. The CDC estimates that 6 percent of U.S. adults are affected by Long COVID, with symptoms ranging from mild to debilitating.
Supreme Court Asked to Review Federal Workers Case
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to stop a judge's decision that requires rehiring about 16,000 federal workers who were recently let go. The judge found that these employees, who worked in departments like Veterans Affairs and Defense, were fired without following proper legal procedures. This case is part of a larger trend where courts are challenging some of the administration's major policy moves.
U.S. Senators to Hold Forum Today on NIH Cuts and Impact on Life-Saving Research
Today, March 26, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. ET, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Peter Welch (D-VT) will host a forum titled “Cures in Crisis: What Gutting NIH Research Means for Americans with Cancer, Alzheimer’s & Other Diseases.” The forum will feature testimony from former NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, Alzheimer’s researchers, and patients who have benefited from NIH-funded clinical trials. They will discuss how recent cuts to NIH funding, staffing layoffs, and halted research threaten advancements in life-saving treatments for conditions like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and ALS. Livestream access available here. For more details on the event, including speakers and topics, click here. AcademyHealth will provide a summary in the next edition of the Situation Report.
Inside Access: Members-Only Insights in 'Read on Washington'
AcademyHealth offers exclusive content to its members through the "Read on Washington" (ROW), a monthly column delivering key insights on developments in Washington, D.C. that impact health services research. This month's ROW covers critical updates on Medicaid budget negotiations, recent HHS confirmations, and changes affecting CMS stakeholder engagement. By becoming a member, you support these efforts and gain access to comprehensive insights and tools to engage with policy developments effectively. Become a member today.
Previous Updates
This is the latest in a series of Situation Report updates from AcademyHealth. You can find prior issues here.
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