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All members of Congress have been invited to answer the following 17 questions about health and research:

1. In a recent survey, a majority of Americans (77%) say they are dissatisfied with the cost of health care in this country. As you consider health reform, do you think costs can be lowered while improving the quality of care? If yes, how?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

2. Do you agree or disagree that it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure all Americans have basic health care coverage?

  • Agree
  • Disagree
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

3. How important do you think it is to include strategies to prevent disease and promote wellness in health reform?

  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not too important
  • Not at all important
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

4. When it comes to rising health care costs, would you say research to improve health is part of the problem or part of the solution?

  • Part of the problem
  • Part of the solution
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

5. Considering all aspects of health reform, how much of a priority is it to accelerate our nation's investment in research to improve health?

  • A top priority
  • High priority
  • Somewhat of a priority
  • Low priority
  • Not a priority at all
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

6. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the agency that funds most of the medical and health research paid for by U.S. taxpayers. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view on funding for NIH?

  • Funding for NIH is not a priority
  • Current U.S. funding for medical and health research is sufficient and other budget items are higher priorities now
  • The U.S. must increase investment in NIH as a critical strategy to improve health care
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

7. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the agency charged with protecting the health and safety of Americans. CDC implements research-based programs to prevent chronic and infectious diseases, lower injury rates, limit tobacco use, protect the population from pandemics, and mitigate environmental health risks. Which of the following statements most accurately reflects your view?

  • Funding for CDC core programs is not a priority
  • Maintain current funding levels for CDC core programs because other budget items take precedence
  • Increase funding for core programs at CDC to improve the health of the public
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

8. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the agency charged with funding health services research, which seeks to rapidly translate discoveries from research into medical practice and improve the quality, safety and effectiveness of health care. Which of the following statements most accurately reflects your view?

  • Funding for AHRQ is not a priority
  • Current funding for AHRQ is sufficient and other budget priorities exist
  • AHRQ funding should be increased as a strategy to improve health care quality and safety in the U.S.
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

9. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the agency responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety and effectiveness of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics and products that emit radiation. Which of the following statements best reflects your opinion?

  • Funding for FDA is not a priority
  • Current funding levels are sufficient for FDA to fulfill its mission
  • Current funding levels for FDA are not keeping pace with accelerated drug and device creation or the increasing globalization of food supplies and should be increased
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

10. Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is meant to compare ways to prevent, diagnose, treat and monitor health conditions in order to match the right treatment to the right patient at the right time. What effect do you think CER will have on our health system?

  • CER will help improve health care
  • CER will limit health care options
  • CER will have no effect on health care
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

11. How important do you think it is to ensure that a nationally coordinated health information technology (HIT) system allows us to learn from the data gathered – to facilitate research, track disease and disability and evaluate the impact of health reform?

  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not too important
  • Not at all important
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

12. How important would you say it is that the U.S. work to improve health globally through research? If important, please describe how you plan to increase our nation's role in promoting and improving global health through research. If not, please explain why.

  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not too important
  • Not at all important
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

13. Certain health issues are more prevalent among people with lower incomes and among certain racial and ethnic populations. How important do you feel it is to conduct research to understand and eliminate these differences?

  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not too important
  • Not at all important
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

14. Current evidence suggests that the U.S. is experiencing shortages and/or poor distribution of certain health care professionals. How high a priority would you say it is for policy makers to create more incentives to encourage individuals to pursue careers as:

Physicians

  • A top priority
  • High priority
  • Somewhat of a priority
  • Low priority
  • Not a priority at all
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Physician Assistants

  • A top priority
  • High priority
  • Somewhat of a priority
  • Low priority
  • Not a priority at all
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Nurses

  • A top priority
  • High priority
  • Somewhat of a priority
  • Low priority
  • Not a priority at all
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Dentists

  • A top priority
  • High priority
  • Somewhat of a priority
  • Low priority
  • Not a priority at all
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Public Health Professionals

  • A top priority
  • High priority
  • Somewhat of a priority
  • Low priority
  • Not a priority at all
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Pharmacists

  • A top priority
  • High priority
  • Somewhat of a priority
  • Low priority
  • Not a priority at all
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

15. How important do you think research is to the U.S. economy?

  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not too important
  • Not at all important
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

16. How important do you think education and training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is to U.S. competitiveness and our future economic prosperity?

  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not too important
  • Not at all important
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________

17. Do you support or oppose expanding federal funding for research using embryonic stem cells?

  • Support
  • Oppose
  • Don't know
  • No opinion

Comments___________________________________________________________________________