To meet the needs of America’s patients, researchers, providers, and health systems, APTR joined 258 leading organizations in calling on Congress to fully fund the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) at $500 million in FY27 and ensure the agency has sufficient staff to meet its statutory obligations. As the nation faces multiple, intersecting health crises, APTR and its partners emphasize that strengthening the U.S. health system has never been more urgent.

AHRQ plays a critical role in supporting research that broadens access to essential services, improves health care quality, reduces costs, advances patient safety, and decreases medical errors. Unlike most federally funded research, which focuses on specific diseases or organ systems, AHRQ is the only federal agency dedicated to funding research at the point of care. This work delivers measurable impact by helping ensure that patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the most effective and efficient way possible.

Despite its importance, AHRQ’s ability to fulfill its mission has been significantly weakened. Insufficient funding, combined with reductions in force and unfilled staff positions, has undermined the agency’s capacity to carry out its statutory responsibilities. APTR Executive Director, Allison Lewis, states "“APTR has seen first-hand the impact of AHRQ investment through the Preventive Medicine Residency Rotation Program, which trained physicians to translate evidence into better care. That program is now paused due to funding decisions, underscoring what is at stake—without sustained investment, we lose critical opportunities to train the workforce and improve patient outcomes.”

To address these challenges, APTR and its partner organizations are calling on Congress to:

• Provide no less than $500 million in funding for AHRQ in FY27.
• Ensure the Department of Health and Human Services maintains staffing levels sufficient to support the agency's programs, research, and grant management responsibilities.

Read the full letter