Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 at
10:14 pm
Today, the US Department of Health & Human Services – HHS released it’s draft definition of comparative effectiveness research.
Comparative effectiveness research is the conduct and synthesis of systematic research comparing different interventions and strategies to prevent, diagnose, treat and monitor health conditions. The purpose of this research is to inform patients, providers, and decision-makers, responding to their expressed needs, about which interventions are most effective for which patients under specific circumstances. To provide this information, comparative effectiveness research must assess a comprehensive array of health-related outcomes for diverse patient populations. Defined interventions compared may include medications, procedures, medical and assistive devices and technologies, behavioral change strategies, and delivery system interventions. This research necessitates the development, expansion, and use of a variety of data sources and methods to assess comparative effectiveness.
Read more about the comparative effectiveness research draft and be sure to submit feedback
Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at
5:08 pm
On April 3rd, 2009 public testimony was given on comparative effectiveness research at a meeting of the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality. Here is a partial list of the players who commented…
- Teresa Lee | Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed)
- Sanjay V. Joag, MD, PhD | Advocate Medical Group
- Susan L. Hildebrandt | American Academy of Family Physicians
- David T. Tayloe, Jr, MD, FAAP | American Academy of Pediatrics
- William Lang, MPH | American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
- Tami L. Wahl | American Association for Health Freedom
- Edwin Webb | American College of Clinical Pharmacy
- Samuel Lin, MD, PhD, MBA, MPA, MS | American Medical Group Association
- James H. Bray, PhD | American Psychological Association
- Nancy Smith | Health Advancement Collaborative of Central New York
- Harrison Spencer | Association of Schools of Public Health
- Peter DeNucci | Apollo Publishing, Inc.
- John Lewis | Association of Clinical Research Organizations
- Frank Kondrad | AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
- Merrill Goozner | Center for Science in the Public Interest
- Christina Bethell, PhD, MBA, MPH |The Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative
- William Vaughan | Consumers Union
- Michael E. Stuart | Delfini Group
- Martyn W.C. Howgill | Institute for Health Technology Studies (InHealth)
- Elisa Cascade | iGuard.org
- Raymond J. Baxter, PhD | Kaiser Permanente
- Sandra C. Raymond | Lupus Foundation of America
- Jordan Green | National Alliance for Caregiving
- Basit Chaudhry, MD, PhD | The National Coalition for Health Integration
- Hazel Moran | The National Working Group on Evidence-based Health Care
- Mark Leahy | Medical Device Manufacturers Association
To see the full list please visit the AHRQ website at: http://www.ahrq.gov/about/nac/test040309.htm
Friday, March 27th, 2009 at
4:43 pm
AHRQ National Advisory Council will meet next week to provide an update on the agency’s current research, programs and initiatives. The AHRQ National Advisory Council provides advice to AHRQ’s director and to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on matters related to AHRQ. In particular, it is expected that the council will discuss it’s role in the HRQ comparative effectiveness research program.
See the full press release about the April 3rd meeting here.
Saturday, March 21st, 2009 at
1:22 pm
Friday, March 20th, 2009 at
1:27 pm
Meet the members of the newly formed Comparative Effectiveness Panel named by HHS. The Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research, was established to oversee and manage $1.1 billion in research funds allocated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In addition, the council is charged with making recommendations to the HHS about different treatment options, surgical procedures, therapies and medications. The overall goal is to provide doctors and patients with the best information possible to make better and informed healthcare choices.
The 15 person Comparative Effectiveness Council are:
- Carolyn Clancy, a physician, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
- Rear Adm. Peter Delany, director of the office of applied studies at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Ezekiel Emanuel, a physician who is special adviser on healthcare with the Office of Management and Budget.
- Jesse Goodman, a physician who is acting chief medical officer at the Food and Drug Administration.
- Garth Graham, a physician who is deputy assistant secretary for minority health in the Office of Minority Health.
- Anne Haddix, a physician who is chief policy officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Deborah Parham Hopson, associate administrator of the HIV/AIDS Bureau at the Health Resources and Services Administration.
- David Hunt, a physician who is chief medical officer in the Office of the National Coordinator.
- Michael Kilpatrick, a physician who is director of strategic communications for the Military Health System.
- Joel Kupersmith, a physician who is chief research and development officer of the Veterans Health Administration.
- Michael Marge, acting director of the Office on Disability.
- Elizabeth Nabel, a physician who is director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute within the NIH.
- Jim Scanlon, acting deputy assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
- Neera Tanden, counselor for health reform at HHS.
- Tom Valuck, a physician who is medical officer and a senior adviser at the CMS
Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at
10:08 pm
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 at
5:40 pm
The American College of Physicians website (www.acponline.org) announced that the past president of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and current editor of Annals of Internal Medicine, Harold C. Sox, MD, MACP, has been named to chair the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Comparative Effectiveness Research Priorities.
Read more about Dr. Sox’s Appointment as Chair of the IOM’s Committee on Comparative Effectiveness Research Priorities.
Monday, March 16th, 2009 at
4:46 pm
Andrew R. Spiegel, Chief Executive officer of the Colon Cancer Alliance, Ilyse Schuman, managing director, Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance; and James H. Thrall, chairman, American College of Radiology Board of Chancellors made a great case (more like a plea) to Medicare officials to reconsider their initial coverage denial for a virtual colonoscopy screening – a tool which the authors “maintain could contribute to saving both lives and health care dollars”. We are encouraged by this kind of dialogue and hope more cases are made to consider the benefits of both comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness research.
Click here to read the letter to the Editor: The Cost-Effectiveness of Virtual Colonoscopies
Friday, March 13th, 2009 at
4:20 pm
Comparative Effectiveness in the News
