BackgroundAuthorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research will help coordinate research and guide investments in comparative effectiveness research. The Recovery Act authorized $300 million for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, $400 million for the National Institutes of Health, and $400 million for the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to support comparative effectiveness research. The Council will coordinate Federal Government comparative effectiveness research. The Council will also make recommendations for the $400 million in the Recovery Act that the Secretary will allocate to advance this type of research.
Comparative effectiveness research (CER) involves the conduct, support, or synthesis of research that compares the clinical outcomes, effectiveness, and appropriateness of items, services, and procedures that are used to prevent, diagnose, or treat diseases, disorders, and other health conditions. CER studies typically focus on comparing the impact of different options on comprehensive health outcomes, including patient mortality, morbidity, quality of life, and performance of the health system. The overarching goal is to provide better evidence to inform decisions made by patients and clinicians.
The Council will consider the information presented via public listening sessions, Web-based submissions from the public, and proposals from within the Federal Government on comparative effectiveness research. The Council will then discuss the potential priorities and make recommendations on how to coordinate comparative effectiveness research and priorities for the $400 million allocated to the Office of the Secretary.
