A public policy agenda for academic medicine

In the emerging health care market place, there is a fundamental question for academic medicine: “Can teaching physicians and teaching hospitals price their services competitively, and financially support their educational, research, and community service missions?” Systematic evaluation of the problem5 as well as anecdotal evidence6 suggest the answer is no. The Balanced Budget Act of 1995 did include a Teaching Hospital and Graduate Medical Education Trust Fund championed by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer (R-TX), and on June 13, 1996, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) introduced the Medical Education Trust Fund Act of 1996. Both of these proposals address the need for a broad-based, shared responsibility financing approach to ensure the vitality of the nationʹs teaching hospitals and medical schools. Both proposals need the attention and enthusiastic support of all stakeholders interested in the future of our health care system.