E.V.I.dently
Evidence. Value. Innovation.
Vol. 1, No. 6 | September 28, 2009
IN THIS ISSUE
Message From NPC
Evidence-Based Medicine Issues and Research
Health Technology Assessment Group News
Health & Productivity Issues
Events
Message From NPC
When the Sound Bite Doesn’t Tell the Full Story
By Dan Leonard, NPC President
Not long ago, President Obama was asked at a press conference about
comparative effectiveness research (CER) and how it fits into the
health care reform debate; he explained CER as a comparison between a
red pill and a blue pill. NPC Dan Leonard explains why President
Obama's attempt to explain CER in a sound bite doesn't accurately
reflect the complexity and science of the issue.
MORE Evidence-Based Medicine Issues and Research
NPC Responds to President Obama's Health Care Address to Congress
In response to President Obama’s health care reform address to Congress, NPC President Dan Leonard said comparative effectiveness research should not be overlooked as a way to improve physician decision making and ultimately, the quality of patient care. MORE
Senate Finance Committee Tackles Comprehensive Health Reform Legislation; Would Create CER Entity The U.S. Senate Finance Committee began its debate of legislation introduced by its Chairman, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT). A key component of the proposal includes the establishment of a private, non-profit corporation to set the research agenda and conduct CER and to be governed by a multi-stakeholder board. MORE
MedPAC Presents Study on CER and Physician Perspectives
Although the goal of CER is to provide the best evidence for physicians and patients, how the research findings are written, disseminated and carried out is a big concern, according to an analysis on physician perspectives conducted by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). MORE
Health Technology Assessment Group News
NICE Allows Stakeholder Comments on Quality and Outcomes Framework
The U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) opened the first public comment period for its Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), which is a voluntary incentive program that rewards general practitioners for how well they care for patients. NICE is active in the development of the clinical and health improvement indicators used by the QOF. MORE
NICE Report Examines Impact of Guidance Documents on Patient Care
The U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) Information Centre released a report, “Use of NICE-appraised Medicines in the NHS in England – Experimental Statistics,” the first in a series of publications to outline the uptake of NICE-appraised medicines in England and assess the impact of NICE guidances on the treatment and care patients receive from the NHS. MORE
Health and Productivity Issues
Survey: Economic Conditions Signal Long-Term Shift in Rx Benefit Approach
According to a new survey conducted on behalf of Medco, “90 percent of plan sponsors believe that minimal attention to personal health and increased incidence of chronic illness such as diabetes and heart disease are at the root of rising health care costs. When asked what influences will have the greatest impact on controlling these escalating costs, nearly 60 percent of respondents say embracing the concept of wellness will yield the most savings, citing the need to control preventable and self-inflicted diseases often linked to obesity and smoking.” Further details on these and other emerging trends are available in the 2009 edition of 9 Leading Trends in Rx Plan Management: Findings from a National Peer Study. The report is available online.
Events
Register Today for Comparative Effectiveness Research and Personalized Medicine: Policy, Science, and Business
Register now for a dynamic conference focusing on two of the most talked about issues in health care: the interface of comparative effectiveness research and personalized medicine.
Hosted by NPC and the Personalized Medicine Coalition, this October 28 daylong conference, Comparative Effectiveness Research and Personalized Medicine: Policy, Science, and Business, features interactive panel discussions and keynote addresses from prominent government, scientific and medical experts. Confirmed speakers include Carolyn Clancy, M.D., Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; Janet Woodcock, M.D., Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration; Amy P. Abernethy, M.D., Associate Director, Duke Comprehensive Cancer Institute; Robert Epstein, M.D., M.S., Senior Vice President, Medical & Analytical Affairs, and Chief Medical Officer, Medco Health Solutions; Newell McElwee, PharmD, MSPH, Executive Director, U.S. Outcomes Research, Merck & Co.; and Cliff Goodman, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, The Lewin Group.
Don’t miss out -- register online today!
