The Association of American Medical Colleges has called on Congress to consider the role U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals play in the nation's fiscal health as lawmakers develop legislation to stimulate economic recovery.
"Increased funding for programs that support medical schools and teaching hospitals will result in an investment return that will not only strengthen our economy, but will also improve the nation's health," said AAMC President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, MD.
In a recent letter to Congressional leaders, the AAMC noted that medical schools and teaching hospitals have a substantial economic and social impact in the counties and cities they serve.
According to a January 2007 Tripp Umbach study, the combined economic impact of AAMC-member institutions was more than $451 billion, and the nation's medical schools and teaching hospitals accounted for more than 3 million full-time jobs, which means that one out of every 48 wage earners in the U.S. labor force works directly or indirectly for one of these institutions.
The AAMC recommends that any stimulus bill include an additional $1.9 billion for the National Institutes of Health, as well as increased support for VA research facilities, Title VII health professions, the National Health Service Corps and national emergency preparedness and response programs.
Also, the association is urging Congress to restore Medicare Capital Indirect Medical Education payments, preserve long-standing Medicaid funding for healthcare safety net providers and graduate medical education and raise the cap on Medicare GME training slots.
"Additional funds for groundbreaking NIH research will create skilled jobs in communities throughout the country, and new medical advances that will save lives and help Americans stay healthier longer," said Kirch.