APA Services joined 194 health services and primary care research organizations in a letter to Congressopens in new window supporting fully funding the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) at $500 million in fiscal year 2026. AHRQ is the leading federal agency for funding health services and primary care research. Additional investments in AHRQ are needed to maximize the implementation of research findings “across the public health and health care continuum to improve patient care and keep pace with the rapidly evolving and changing health care landscape.”
The groups emphasized that funding AHRQ is “more critical than ever to improve our health systems.” They also highlighted the complex health challenges faced by rural communities, as the ongoing closures of rural hospitals and clinics are leading to worsening health outcomes for these communities. Rural populations have long been identified by the agency as a priority population to support, and they continue to fund research to improve rural health systems. Additionally, AHRQ provides resources used by patients, medical providers, health system leaders, and policy makers to determine the effectiveness of health systems delivery.
AHRQ is a key player in reducing the burden of chronic disease and guiding healthcare professionals with evidence-based resources on managing chronic conditions. Unfortunately, the agency has been impacted by the widespread reduction-in-force recently instituted at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The community remains concerned that such a drastic cut in AHRQ personnel could hinder the agency’s ability to carry out its functions and lead to an increase in illness and preventable deaths, force Americans to take on more debt to pay for their care, and ultimately destabilize our health care systems..
APA Services will continue to advocate on AHRQ’s behalf, including urging congressional oversight, as AHRQ has a unique role in providing patient safety improvement, managing chronic disease management, reducing health care costs, and supporting health care access.
APA/APASI response center
We understand the recent and proposed policy changes are creating significant challenges for psychologists across research, education, and practice. These changes are affecting your work in multiple ways, from the elimination of training positions and restricted access to federal datasets, to frozen clinical positions and reduced funding. Not only are these policy shifts affecting your work, but they are also having an impact on broader societal issues. Accordingly, we have initiated an APA/APASI response center to keep you informed of our activities and encourage your involvement. Please bookmark it and visit it regularly.
For more information, contact Angela L. Sharpe.