AAHC Urges Balanced Approach to Avoiding Fiscal Cliff

Expresses Concern with Effects of Sequestration on Nation's Health and Well-Being

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of Academic Health Centers (AAHC) is disappointed that the end of the year is approaching without a deal between the White House and Congress to avoid the fiscal cliff, and urges the President and Congressional leaders to find a balanced approach to resolving our nation's deficit and budgetary issues which includes funding core programs vital to advancing our nation's economic and scientific strength.

"Non-defense discretionary funding central to maintaining our nation's global competitiveness in education, research, and healthcare has already taken the brunt of budgetary cuts to reduce deficit spending," said AAHC President and CEO Dr. Steven A. Wartman, adding that "academic health centers simply cannot afford to absorb further program budgetary cuts through sequestration or by other means without negatively affecting our nation's health and well-being."

As centers of education, innovation, and healthcare delivery the nation's academic health centers are leaders in pioneering more efficient means to meet patients' needs while maintaining the highest quality of care.  In their role as major engines of economic development and employment in their communities, as well as an important component of the healthcare safety net, academic health centers fear that the drastic cuts to non-defense discretionary funding imposed by sequestration will severely hamper their ability to support high quality research and health professions education.   

AAHC strongly urges government leaders to continue working towards a balanced approach that addresses our current budgetary crisis. "We recognize the importance of reducing the deficit, and we believe this can be done while protecting the quality of patient care, promoting vital biomedical research, and ensuring the education of our future healthcare workforce," said Wartman.

The AAHC is a non-profit association dedicated to advancing the nation's health and well-being through the vigorous leadership of academic health centers.

SOURCE Association of Academic Health Centers