August 8, 2002

Dear Chairman Regula and Ranking Member Obey:

As you prepare the FY2003 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education appropriations bill, the Friends of AHRQ urge your strong consideration of Congressional requests to provide increased funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Funding of at least $375 million is needed to enable AHRQ to fully carry out its mission to improve our nation's health care delivery system.

Our organizations recognize the tough budget decisions that lie ahead for the Subcommittee and appreciate your leadership and support of AHRQ. More than ever, AHRQ research is needed to address the problems facing our health care system, including the need to control health care costs, improve quality and patient safety, address the uninsured, and stabilize the Medicare program. AHRQ's work has significantly contributed to improving the health care system, and the Agency will continue to do so if adequately funded with a relatively modest investment of funds.

The Administration proposes cutting AHRQ funding by $48 million, or 16 percent. These cuts will severely impact AHRQ and its research. Because of the way the cuts are structured, AHRQ will be unable to fund any new research or training grants. Funding for current non-patient safety research will be reduced by nearly 50 percent. We urge you to reject this approach. The Friends of AHRQ urge you to support providing at least $375 million for AHRQ in FY2003 to continue current grants and allow the agency to fully fund research in the areas of quality of care and health care financing. Thank you for considering this important request.

Sincerely,

Administrators of Internal Medicine
Ambulatory Pediatric Association
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association for Dental Research
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Chiropractic Association
American Clinical Laboratory Association
American College of Epidemiology
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine
American College of Rheumatology
American Dental Association
American Dental Education Association
American Federation for Medical Research
American Geriatrics Society
American Heart Association
American Osteopathic Association
American Pediatric Society
American Public Health Association
Americans for Better Care of the Dying
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association of Departments of Family Medicine
Association of Family Practice Residency Directors
Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs
Association of Professors of Medicine
Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine
Association of Subspecialty Professors
Association of University Programs in Health Administration
Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine
Coalition for Health Funding
Coalition for Health Services Research
Health Insurance Association of America
Kaiser Permanente Institute for Health Policy
Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical Group Management Association
National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation
National Committee for Quality Assurance
North American Primary Care Research Group
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Renal Physicians Association
Research!America
Research Triangle Institute
Society for Adolescent Medicine
Society for Pediatric Research
Society for Women's Health Research
Society of General Internal Medicine
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine
Society of Thoracic Surgeons
University of Washington