As Congress considers and enacts proposals such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), health information technology, comparative effectiveness research and use of data registries such as the ICD Registry™ in quality improvement efforts, the Society will be at the forefront of evaluating their impact and advocating for policies that enable our members to continue providing cutting edge care and access to patients.
2009
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Act of 2009 (06/11/2009) — On June 10, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) introduced the “Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Act of 2009” establishing a private, nonprofit corporation, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, to generate evidence on which health care interventions and services work and which don't. Comparative effectiveness research compares clinical outcomes, or the "clinical effectiveness," of alternative therapies and health strategies for the same condition. Learn more »
Society Responds to the Introduction of the Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2009 (06/03/2009) — On May 19, Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OH), joined by 11 co-sponsors, introduced H.R. 2502, “Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2009.” This legislation recognizes that Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) should be focused on informing doctor and patient decisions, not on cost issues. H.R. 2502 provides a clear, transparent process for the research development and ensures that the research is not used for coverage decisions. The Heart Rhythm Society has sent a letter of support. Learn more »
Formation of New Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (03/25/2009) — The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appropriated $1.1 billion to the Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) and also authorized the creation of the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research. This new Council will coordinate CER and will advise Congress and the President on CER priorities while considering the needs of populations served by federal programs and opportunities to build and expand on current investments and priorities. Learn more about the Council and its members »
President Signs Stimulus Package (02/18/2009) — After being approved by the House of Representatives and by the Senate on Friday, February 13, the stimulus package was signed by President Barack Obama yesterday. The final version of the legislation includes provisions addressing Health Information Technology, Comparative Effectiveness Research and funding of medical research. Learn more »
The Heart Rhythm Society Voices Concerns about CER Provision in the Stimulus Package (02/04/2009) — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed its version of the stimulus package, while the Senate is debating it this week. The Society has written to the leadership of the House and Senate voicing concerns about the comparative effectiveness research (CER) language in the stimulus package. Learn more »
Congress Negotiates Healthcare Priorities in the Economic Recovery Bill (01/21/2009) — On Thursday, January 15, Democratic leaders of the House of Representatives released the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009,” commonly referred to as the stimulus package or economic recovery bill. Stimulus package priorities include lowering healthcare costs and transforming the economy with science and technology, which include comparative effectiveness research and health IT. Learn more »
2008
Senators Introduce Comparative Effectiveness Research Bill (08/05/2008) — On August 1 Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) introduced S. 3408, the Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2008, which would establish a private, non-profit institute to conduct research evaluating and comparing the implications and outcomes of two or more health care therapies in treating a particular medical condition. Learn more about this bill and its possible impact »
Panel on Comparative Effectiveness Research Agrees on Value of Data, But Disagrees on Use of Information (04/05/2008) — On Friday, April 4 the Society attended a briefing, sponsored by the Alliance for Health Reform, on Comparative Effectiveness Research. The panel included representatives from AdvaMed, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, America’s Health Insurance Plans and the Director of an Institute of Medicine study on comparative effectiveness research. Learn more »
