Physician groups sue HHS over grant removals: 5 notes

Two physician groups are suing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. over the stoppage of research grants administered by HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Here’s what to know:

1. The lawsuit was filed Aug. 21 by Society of General Internal Medicine and North American Primary Care Research Group and is centered around the downsizing and staff firings in HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The move was part of President Donald Trump’s plan to restructure HHS announced in April.

2. In July, AHRQ notified grant applicants that the agency had no more grant administration staff and had no ability to issue any grant funding, according to the lawsuit. The agency also said it was uncertain whether it would spend the funds Congress appropriated and that the agency had previously budgeted for fiscal 2025.

3. The lawsuit asserts that the “cessation of AHRQ’s grantmaking process violates the statutory and regulatory requirements governing the agency’s grantmaking process. It has resulted in an unlawful impoundment of millions of dollars that Congress expected and instructed AHRQ to spend on grantmaking and other research functions.”

4. The plaintiffs asked the court to find the cessation of the grantsmaking process and its refusal to consider and process grant applications unlawful. They also asked the court to require the agency to restart its grantmaking process.

5. AHRQ’s restructuring was announced in March and has led to many concerns and questions among industry leaders. Primarily, leaders have been concerned about how the agency’s core functions —- including patient safety, diagnostic safety and healthcare-associated infections — will be maintained. They have also warned that cuts could threaten the infrastructure systems rely on to improve care and protect patients and staff.

The post Physician groups sue HHS over grant removals: 5 notes appeared first on Becker’s Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.