AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, and Chief Public Policy Officer Danielle Turnipseed, JD, MHSA, MPP, issued the following statement on the passage of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (H.R. 1968). This legislation will fund the federal government, including the National Institutes of Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies, until Sept. 30, 2025.
“The spending package approved by Congress includes important provisions that maintain funding for federal agencies and preserve access to patient care. The legislation extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities, the Acute Hospital Care at Home program, funding for Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program and the National Health Service Corps – as well as delays scheduled cuts to the Medicaid DSH program through September.
The AAMC remains disappointed that lawmakers did not address the 2.8% Medicare physician payment cut that went into effect in January and that indiscriminate, counterproductive disruptions continue to stall work supported by federal health and science agencies. Federal research, public health, and education programs play a key role in improving the health and well-being of the American people. We urge Congress to prioritize support for these key federal operations and to expeditiously develop bipartisan FY 2026 spending bills that include robust investments in physicians, medical students, health professionals, biomedical research, and the health of all patients, families, and communities.”