06/19/2025
Statement of Opposition to the Dismantling of Essential Healthcare Programs
The Northwest Medical Society, representing over 400 physicians and physician assistants in Whatcom and San Juan Counties, strongly condemns the proposed dismantling and defunding of critical public health organizations. These include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), facing a proposed 44% budget cut, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), slated for a 40% reduction, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), among others vital for safeguarding public health, managing disease outbreaks, and advancing medical research. Additionally, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has driven workforce reductions within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), cutting 20,000 jobs and consolidating divisions, which threatens the capacity of these agencies to serve rural and underserved communities like ours.
We assert that physicians and advanced practice providers must retain the autonomy to make informed medical decisions in collaboration with their patients and families. Such decisions should be guided by evidence-based medicine and the ethical standards enshrined in the Hippocratic and Osteopathic Oaths, which our physicians and physician assistants uphold. These principles, reaffirmed by respected organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), must remain free from political and commercial influences, ensuring patient care remains the foremost priority.
We firmly believe every individual has a fundamental right to quality, compassionate, affordable, and accessible healthcare. Recent House Republican proposals to reduce federal Medicaid funding and impose stricter eligibility requirements threaten to cause millions to lose coverage, disproportionately affecting low-income populations in our communities. Furthermore, DOGE-led cuts within HHS exacerbate resource constraints for public health programs. We oppose policies and initiatives that undermine this right, including those defunding critical public health organizations and limiting access to essential healthcare services, while supporting efforts to maintain robust public health infrastructure.
As physician leaders, we are deeply committed to advocating for the health and well-being of all our patients and the diverse communities we serve. We stand united against efforts to erode the legal and institutional foundations that protect public health and pledge to continue fighting for what upholds the professional integrity of our service as clinicians.
