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July 29, 2000 Dear Chairman Porter and Congressman Obey: The Friends of AHRQ thank you for your strong support of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. We are asking for your continued leadership on behalf of the Agency as you conference this legislation and urge your consideration of the Senate's recommendation of $270 million in FY2001 funding. This level of funding is needed to enable the AHRQ to: · Provide leadership in improving patient safety and reducing medical errors. The impact of medical errors on patient health had been well established by the Institute of Medicine report. The House mark includes $20 million for this effort. The Friends support the additional $30 million provided by the Senate to more quickly enable the Agency to take needed steps to prevent medical errors. · Expand investigator-initiated grants, private-public partnerships and clinical prevention research. The President's budget request does not sustain growth in new awards and grants and will lead to a decrease in the funding available to support investigator-initiated research. The Friends have recommended an additional $30 million be made available to aid investigator-initiated research, facilitate the translation of research into clinical practice and disease management strategies, and address the needs of vulnerable populations. We are pleased the Senate mark would make available approximately $20 million in funding in this area. The Friends of AHRQ greatly appreciate your continued leadership and support of AHRQ and understand the budget constraints that the Subcommittee has faced in developing its FY2001 bill. As this bill now moves to conference, we again urge you to consider the Senate mark for AHRQ as part of any final FY2001 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill. Sincerely, Alliance
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