Washington, D.C., February 3, 2004 - Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., president of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), issued the following comments on President Bush's FY 2005 budget:

"As representatives of medical educators, researchers and health care providers, we are pleased that the President's proposed budget maintains his commitment to medical liability reform and additional health coverage for the uninsured. The President's budget also provides a $35 million (21 percent) increase for the National Health Service Corps, an essential program for supplying health professionals to inner city and rural areas.

However, we are alarmed that the administration has once again recommended minimal increases or level funding for many federal programs that are critical to America's health. For example, the 2.6 percent increase proposed for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) falls short of inflation and may force NIH to choose between ongoing basic research efforts or new clinical research activities, resulting in an overall slowdown in medical discoveries. Proposed funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is frozen despite new mandates included in the recently enacted Medicare drug bill to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of health care services delivered under Medicare. In addition, funding for the emergency hospital preparedness program would be cut by 7.6 percent to pay for other emergency preparedness initiatives. And finally, like last year, the administration wants to eliminate funding for most health professions education programs, jeopardizing these critical components of the health care safety net, which are dedicated to improving the quality, geographic distribution and diversity of the health care workforce.

Unless the chronic underfunding of these public health programs is reversed, it will be exceedingly difficult for health care professionals to maintain and improve the health of all Americans, and ensure that we are prepared for any future acts of terrorism against our nation."

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The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 129 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 94 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 109,000 faculty members, 67,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

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