Comparative Effectiveness Research: The Future of Quality measures?

Back in 2007, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee asked the Congressional Budget Office to prepare a report about Comparative Effectiveness Research. Specifically, the report was to "examine options for expanded federal support for research" on this topic. Additionally, this report was to explore "changing the financial incentives for doctors and patients" to reflect the research.

You can find the report here.

Fast forward to now. In the American Recover and Reinvestment Act of 2009, appropriated over $1.1 billion for various government agencies to conduct comparative effectiveness research - and a 15-member council to oversee it all.

The size of this investment strongly suggests that this government is taking pay-for-performance seriously. It is likely that future quality measures will find their roots in the work of this committee.

The committee today announced a public listening session on April 14, 2009 in Washington. You can attend in person, nominate a person to make a 3min statement, or submit a written statement for the committee to consider. The press release and associated information can be found here.

The AHRQ has set up their web home for Comparative Effectiveness at: http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/

The IOM has their Comparative Effectiveness page at: http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3809/63608.aspx

The HHS has limited information about Comparative Effectiveness funding at: http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/cer/index.html