In the most challenging environment for health and science policy that many of us can remember, AcademyHealth has succeeded in keeping funding for health services research top of mind, forced action where it had stalled, and delivered concrete wins for our members. That we’ve done so without the resources of a major lobbying arm is a testament to teamwork, strategy, and dedication. And so, we were thrilled this week when Research!America announced that our team’s hard work would be recognized with the Paul G. Rogers Distinguished Organization Advocacy Award for our leadership in protecting AHRQ and mobilizing the health services research community.
AcademyHealth’s mission and advocacy priorities challenge us to promote robust research funding and evidence implementation, advancing data and innovation to improve health outcomes and strengthening evidence-based policy decision-making. From RIFs and staff reductions at HHS to unlawful impoundments and suspended grants, and from the removal of public data to attacks on Medicaid, each of these and more have been tested in the first 11 months of the year.
With limited resources, our efforts have focused on four key areas: protecting funding and capacity, defending evidence bodies like USPSTF, making a clear case for research-informed decision making, and safeguarding public data—all while keeping our members informed and mobilized via the Situation Report.
Protecting funding and capacity
As part of our regular advocacy for research funding and leadership of the Friends of AHRQ, we identified clear failures in the Agency’s capacity to meet its statutory obligations following mass layoffs in April. Our analysis exposed AHRQ impoundments and led us to undertake an aggressive media and advocacy push to unlock this critical funding for the field. Under the resulting pressure from Congress and the courts, and despite having virtually none of its own staff left to distribute funds, AHRQ restarted a tranche of continuing grants by temporarily running them through FDA.
We also secured bipartisan, bicameral messages from appropriations leaders demanding AHRQ explain how it would use its appropriated funds despite the layoffs—exposing the dysfunction caused by staff reductions and creating oversight. Our efforts led Rep. Diane DeGette to initiate a GAO investigation into the impoundments. We were also proud to support Public Citizen’s lawsuit on behalf of SGIM to challenge the impoundments; that case is now in district court.
Defending evidence-based policymaking
In June, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which our amicus brief called for. Shortly afterward, we heard credible rumors that the Secretary might purge and reconstitute the Task Force, and we acted quickly to respond. We rallied more than 100 organizations for a joint letter to Congress, met with congressional leaders, held town halls, worked the press, and provided technical assistance for the Senate resolution supporting the Task Force. People close to the process credit our rapid mobilization with making the PR costs of a purge visible and stalling action in the moment. Unfortunately, the November meeting was later “postponed” due to the shutdown; we’re keeping watch on this developing situation, and working to maintain congressional and media attention on the need to secure the Task Force’s integrity and cadence.
Tying Medicaid policy to evidence
As Congress advanced the reconciliation package that cuts an estimated $1 trillion from Medicaid, we trained researchers from SUPLN and MODRN to engage effectively, produced digestible one-pagers on the evidence, and met with more than 80 offices to share evidence about the implications of different Medicaid proposals, including work requirements. Since the law passed, we’ve pivoted to implementation support—educating relevant policymakers on the data infrastructure states need to implement and evaluate the changes while trying to mitigate harm to beneficiaries and health systems.
Safeguarding data and access
We sued and ultimately reached a settlement with HHS to restore dozens of public health webpages that had been removed by executive order—an immediate win for researchers who rely on those resources. The threat to these data has not fully passed, however, and we continue to actively monitor and respond. Recently, the team once again leapt to action when new staff reductions announced during the shutdown directly imperiled the vital statistics function at NCHS. As part of the deal to reopen the government, Congress ordered that these layoffs at NCHS be rolled back.
Looking ahead, our near-term priorities are clear: secure an FY26 outcome that keeps AHRQ intact and compels timely grantmaking; support the GAO and litigation tracks on impoundments; maintain regular, expert-driven operations at the USPSTF; continue to deliver evidence to the Hill that informs legislation and builds trusted relationships; and guard against new forms of data suppression.
All the while, we will continue to keep the field informed through our bi-weekly Situation Report and monthly “Read on Washington” updates, bi-monthly member-only webinars, and other special events.
This level of representation requires tremendous resources, and your support is critical to ensuring the success of our advocacy efforts. This month, if you appreciate our work to defend the field and have the means to do so, we encourage you to support AcademyHealth’s Giving Tuesday campaign. Any amount helps. There’s no need to wait for December 2. You can make your gift and support a friendly competition between our Board Chair Rasu Shrestha and CEO Aaron Carroll right now.
Our advocacy team is fighting for you every day. Will you join us?