Formation

The Association for Health Services Research (AHSR) – predecessor of AcademyHealth – formed the Friends of AHCPR in 1992. At its first meeting, Agency Administrator Jarrett Clinton provided an overview of the Agency's structure and activities. The second half of the meeting was used to discuss lobbying strategy, with the Friends members agreeing to promote the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) in their appropriations materials and meetings. It was also decided that a joint letter from the Friends organizations would be sent to all House and Senate Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee Members. Additional activities would be pursued as needed and determined at future meetings.

Over time, the Friends coalition has grown to more than 130 organizations. Peak times of interest occurred in 1994 and 1995 when the agency's budget was threatened and recently as the agency gained a more prominent role in improving health care quality and addressing medical errors. The Friends changed its name at the end of 1999 to reflect the Agency's reauthorization as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Friends Activities

There are a number of activities that the Friends pursue on an annual basis.

• Agency Briefings – An initial briefing is held soon after the release of the President's budget, with subsequent meetings convened as needed and in reaction to appropriations and authorization legislation. The Friends also have hosted a meeting at the Agency to gain a more detailed overview of the Agency's work and to meet with senior staff.
  
  
• Joint Letters – The Friends' greatest strength has been its ability to pull together diverse health organizations in support of the Agency. The Friends send joint letters to Congress regarding appropriations and reauthorization. Appropriations letters are sent prior to action by the House and Senate Labor, HHS Appropriations Subcommittees and again prior to House-Senate conference. In some years, letters also have been sent to the Budget Committees, the full Appropriations Committees, the Rule Committees, and the entire House and Senate.
  
• Legislative and Agency Update – Friends' organizations are kept apprised of current legislative and Agency information through regular updates. These updates recently were transferred to an e-mail distribution format.
  
• Joint Hill Meetings – When possible, the Friends have met with the House and Senate Labor, HHS Appropriations Subcommittee staff members regarding funding for the Agency.
  
• Resource – AcademyHealth serves as a resource for Friends' organizations seeking information about the Agency and its staff. This has included assistance in preparing appropriations testimony and letters to Congress, arranging Hill and Agency meetings, drafting talking points, providing background materials on the Agency and its grants, and building support for the Agency through contacts in the leadership of Friends' organizations.