ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES (AAMC) NOVEMBER NATIONAL SURVEY MEMO SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

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1 TO: FROM: RE: ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES (AAMC) BILL McINTURFF/ELIZABETH HARRINGTON NOVEMBER NATIONAL SURVEY MEMO SUMMARY OF FINDINGS DATE: NOVEMBER 28 th, 2011 Methodology This memorandum highlights the key findings from a series of questions added onto a national omnibus survey for The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The national omnibus telephone survey was conducted November 16-20, 2011 among 800 registered voters (700 land line interviews, 100 cell phone interviews). The margin of error on a sample size of 800 is +3.46%. Executive Summary These data show Americans reluctance and considerable opposition to cutting federal funding for medical research. o When asked more specifically about cuts to medical research funding, more than six out of ten voters (62%) oppose significant cuts in federal funding for medical research, while 34% favor these cuts. By almost a three-to-one margin, there is stronger opposition to cuts in medical research funding than there is strong support. o Majorities of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats oppose cutting federal funding for medical research. 1

2 These data also show major opposition to cutting federal funding to teaching hospitals that provides training for new doctors, special medical services, and care for sicker patients. Detailed Findings o Nearly eight out of ten voters (77%) oppose significantly cutting federal funding to teaching hospitals, while 21% of voters favor cutting this funding. Importantly, a majority of voters (52%) strongly oppose these cuts to teaching hospitals, while only nine percent (9%) strongly favor these cuts. o Importantly, there are no sub-groups across this data where a majority, or even a plurality, support federal funding cuts to teaching hospitals that provide these types of services. o Significant majorities of Republicans (even Tea Party supporters), Independents, and Democrats oppose federal funding cuts to teaching hospitals that provide these types of services. These data show Americans reluctance and considerable opposition to cutting federal funding for medical research. o When asked to choose from eight domestic programs which one they would be willing to cut federal government spending on in order to reduce the federal deficit, national defense receives the highest percentage at 21%. Only seven percent (7%) of voters chose medical research. Sixty-four percent (64%) of voters support cuts to one of the eight domestic programs tested, while one-third (33%) of voters do not support spending reductions in any of the programs we tested. 2

3 The table on the below shows how the eight programs we tested fared. Domestic Programs Willing To Cut Spending On To Reduce Federal Deficit National defense 21% Unemployment benefits 15% Roads, bridges, and other infrastructure 10% Public education 7% Medical research 7% Medicare 2% Social Security 2% Veterans benefits * Do not support spending reductions in any of these programs 33% There is a sharp difference in which programs voters choose to cut by their partisan affiliation. Republicans top two programs to cut are unemployment benefits and public education. Independents choose national defense and unemployment benefits. Democrats choose national defense and roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. Higher percentages of Independents and Democrats also report not wanting to cut any of these domestic programs. Domestic Programs Willing To Cut Spending On To Reduce Federal Deficit By Party Identification GOP IND DEM National defense 8% 22% 33% Unemployment benefits 25% 15% 5% Roads, bridges, and other infrastructure 7% 7% 13% Public education 15% 4% 2% Medical research 10% 6% 4% Medicare 4% 1% * Social Security 2% 1% 1% Veterans benefits * 1% * Do not support spending reductions in any of these programs 24% 38% 37% 3

4 o When asked more specifically about cuts to medical research funding, more than six out of ten voters (62%) oppose significant cuts in federal funding for medical research, while 34% favor these cuts. By almost a three-to-one margin, there is stronger opposition to cuts in medical research funding than there is strong support. Would you favor or oppose the government significantly cutting federal funding for medical Research? Total Favor 34% Total Oppose 62% Strongly Favor 14% Somewhat Favor 20% Somewhat Oppose 23% Strongly Oppose 39% Majorities of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats oppose cutting federal funding for medical research. Favor Oppose Republicans 44% 51% Independents 29% 64% Democrats 26% 71% There are some differences in the level of opposition by age and region. Younger voters (under age 45) are more opposed to cuts in medical research funding than older voters (age 45+). Favor Oppose Age % 72% Age % 68% Age % 52% Age % 53% Age % 59% Voters living on the West Coast report lower levels of opposition than the rest of the country. Favor Oppose Northeast 33% 64% Midwest 32% 66% South 32% 61% West 39% 56% 4

5 The strongest opponents of cutting federal funding for medical research are: Strongly Oppose Funding Cuts For Medical Research (39%) African Americans (60%) Democrat Men (56%) Strong Democrats (51%) Women Age (50%) Cell Phone Only Households (49%) Liberals (48%) HH Income Under $20K (48%) Obama Voters (47%) Democrats (47%) HS or Less Education (47%) Independent Women (46%) Voters under the age of 45 (46%) Millennial Generation (Ages 18-27) (46%) Voters living in the Deep South (46%) Working women (45%) Voters who do not support the Tea Party (45%) HH Income $40-$60K (45%) Men Age (44%) These data also show major opposition to cutting federal funding to teaching hospitals that provide training for new doctors, special medical services, and care for sicker patients. o Nearly eight out of ten voters (77%) oppose significantly cutting federal funding to teaching hospitals, while 21% of voters favor cutting this funding. Importantly, a majority of voters (52%) strongly oppose these cuts to teaching hospitals, while only nine percent (9%) strongly favor these cuts. 5

6 Respondents were read the following information and question: Currently, teaching hospitals receive federal funding to help train new doctors, provide special medical services such as trauma centers and burn units, and provide care for sicker patients. Would you favor or oppose the government significantly cutting this federal funding to teaching hospitals? Cutting Federal Funding To Teaching Hospitals Total Favor 21% Total Oppose 77% Strongly Favor 9% Somewhat Favor 12% Somewhat Oppose 25% Strongly Oppose 52% Importantly, there are no sub-groups across this data where a majority, or even a plurality, support federal funding cuts to teaching hospitals. Significant majorities of Republicans (even Tea Party supporters), Independents, and Democrats oppose federal funding cuts to teaching hospitals. Favor Oppose Tea Party Supporters 34% 61% Republicans 30% 67% Independents 21% 75% Democrats 11% 87% 6

7 The strongest opponents of cutting federal funding to teaching hospitals are: Strongly Oppose Funding Cuts To Teaching Hospitals (52%) HH Income $40-$60K (68%) Women Age (62%) Democrats (62%) Independent Women (61%) Post Graduates (61%) Liberals (61%) African Americans (61%) Obama Voters (60%) Voters living in the Pacific region (59%) Age (58%) Women Less Than College (58%) Voters living in the Northeast region (57%) Voters who do not support the Tea Party (57%) As noted in this memo, we asked two questions about cuts to funding: 1) specific to medical research funding cuts; and 2) specific to teaching hospital funding cuts. There is strong opposition to cuts in federal funding to both as stated earlier. However, it is also important to look at the top sub-groups that are picked up as opponents to cuts in funding when talking about teaching hospital funding cuts versus medical research funding cuts. We ran an analysis to look at these audiences. The key sub-groups are highlighted in the table below. Top Groups Who Make Up The 19% Of Voters Who Favor Cuts To Medical Research But Oppose Cuts To Teaching Hospitals Age 60+ Retired Women 29% Women Age % Women At Home 27% Republicans Who Do Not Support The Tea Party 27% Soft Republicans 25% Age % White Women 25% Silent Generation (Ages 67-84) 25% Republicans Age % Urban Women 25% Republican Women 29% Age % Women With Less Than College Education 24% Voters With Some College Education 24% 7

8 o When read six possible outcomes of significant federal funding cuts to teaching hospitals, voters are very closely divided about which one of the possible outcomes would be of most concern to them. Respondents were read the following information and question: Now let's imagine for a moment that the federal government DOES CUT funding to teaching hospitals. I am going to read you some things people have said could happen if teaching hospital funding is cut. Please tell me which ONE would concern you the most. If teaching hospital funding is cut it could mean Funding Cuts to Teaching Hospitals Most Concerning Possible Outcome A shortage of doctors 20% Trauma care services in hospitals could be shut down 19% Overloaded emergency rooms meaning longer waits for care 16% Reducing patient access to the latest treatments and newest technologies 13% Not being able to accept the sickest patients from other hospitals 10% A shortage of nurses in hospitals 8% Given how closely divided voters are on this measure, it is important to note how the rank order of concern shifts among key audiences. The tables below and on the following page highlight these shifts in ranking. Funding Cuts to Teaching Hospitals Most Concerning Possible Outcome By Key Sub-Groups Women Working Opinion Women Elites A shortage of doctors 20% 22% 19% Trauma care services in hospitals could be shut down 22% 35% 24% Overloaded emergency rooms meaning longer waits for care 16% 18% 10% Reducing patient access to the latest treatments and newest 12% 10% 20% technologies Not being able to accept the sickest patients from other hospitals 9% 6% 7% A shortage of nurses in hospitals 10% 4% 13% 8

9 Funding Cuts to Teaching Hospitals Most Concerning Possible Outcome By Party Republicans IND/Swing Voters Democrats A shortage of doctors 24% 19% 18% Trauma care services in hospitals could be shut down 18% 19% 20% Overloaded emergency rooms meaning longer waits for care 16% 14% 17% Reducing patient access to the latest treatments and newest 14% 12% 14% technologies Not being able to accept the sickest patients from other 6% 13% 11% hospitals A shortage of nurses in hospitals 7% 8% 10% 9