NEHI Outlines a National Strategy For Dissemination of Comparative Effectiveness Research

Press Release
February 17, 2011

CAMBRIDGE, MA (February 17, 2011) – NEHI, an independent nonprofit national network for health innovation, today proposed a national strategy for disseminating comparative effectiveness research (CER) findings that would be led by the newly created Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

NEHI’s proposal comes as calls for repealing or defunding parts of the health reform law are growing in Congress, including at least one bill to eliminate PCORI altogether. PCORI’s independent status and broad convening authority make it well positioned to take the lead in elevating dissemination to a national priority, NEHI says.

NEHI’s proposal, contained in a white paper titled From Evidence to Practice: A National Strategy for CER Dissemination, recommends that PCORI should:

 ·        Become a highly visible national champion for CER dissemination and effective health care.

·         Build diverse partnerships with national organizations such as learning health care centers and medical societies.

·         Reinforce public understanding of CER and build credibility by supporting the development of personalized medicine and avoiding the endorsement of research findings

·         Link CER to major health conditions affecting broad cross-sections of the population such as diabetes, heart disease and depression.

The rancorous national debate over health reform has created public skepticism over the mission and value of comparative effectiveness research. Only through the effective dissemination of CER results can the program achieve its mission of finding more effective ways to treat illness and deliver care, NEHI says.

“The goal of comparative effectiveness research is to generate a new wave of practical medical evidence,” said NEHI Executive Director Valerie Fleishman. “Getting the evidence to doctors and patients is key to improving health care – and PCORI is best positioned to do that.”  

The white paper is the latest addition to NEHI’s research portfolio on CER, which began in 2008. To develop these recommendations, NEHI interviewed two dozen national experts on evidence-based medicine and CER, and in 2010 convened high-level experts for a roundtable in Washington, D.C. In April, NEHI will be hosting another roundtable with national thought leaders to discuss the white paper recommendations and build consensus around implementing a national CER dissemination strategy.

About NEHI
NEHI is an independent, nonprofit national network focused on enabling innovation to improve health care quality and lower health care costs. In partnership with members from all across the health care system, NEHI conducts evidence-based research and stimulates policy change to improve the quality and the value of health care. Together with this unparalleled network of committed health care leaders, NEHI brings an objective, collaborative and fresh voice to health policy. For more information, visit www.nehi.net.