Fiscal restraint continues to be the predominant influence on medical education at most institutions. With financial support declining at both federal and state levels, academic medical centers are seeking alternative sources of support, largely from medical practice plans and community service activities.
The budget reconciliation measure adopted by Congress called for elimination of capitation aid for the next academic year. Loss of capitation support was no surprise, since medical schools had been warned as far back as 1978 by then Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Secretary Joseph Califano that this would occur. Nevertheless, the loss of such funding for general educational support will undoubtedly be difficult for many medical schools to replace.
Other developments likely to affect the present and future course of medical education include the changed relationships among the major professional organizations that sponsor and support the accrediting systems, publication of and reaction to the Graduate Medical