Shaping Convergent Strategies for Comparative Effectiveness Research

  • June 24, 2010 - 1:21pm
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The momentum behind expanding the nation’s capacity to generate comparative effectiveness research (CER ) is reaching a crucial stage. Most stakeholders believe that better evidence about quality and value will drive better clinical decision-making, thus improving patient health outcomes. But the success of any national CER initiatives will depend on how evidence is developed, whether it is credible, and how it is used by patients, providers, and payers.

Overview

To date, much of the conversation regarding CER has been focused on the best ways to fund and generate new research findings. In contrast, relatively little attention has addressed CER methods and the dissemination and interpretation of the research findings. "Shaping Convergent Strategies for Comparative Effectiveness Research," cosponsored by NPC, the Health Industry Forum, America's Health Insurance Plans, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, examined how CER information will be developed, managed, disseminated, and adopted within the unique multi-stakeholder community of the U.S. health care arena. This diversity is represented by the multiple sponsors of the conference, as well as the wide array of thought-leader panelists. Speakers from academia and the policy community, as well as those representing government, consumers, employers, pharmaceuticals, insurers, and delivery systems addressed the questions about how CER will be employed in a way that informs decisions, improves health, and enhances the overall performance of our health care system.

Expand for Agenda

To view speaker presentations (PDF format), please click on the speaker's name. Presentations are not available for all speakers.

8:00 – 8:30 am Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 8:40 am Welcome and Introduction(s)

8:40 – 9:15 am Keynote

  • Gail Wilenksy, PhD, Senior Fellow, Project HOPE/Health Affairs
  • Moderator: Alissa Fox, Senior Vice President, Office of Policy and Representation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA)

9:15 – 10:15 am The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)

  • Carolyn M. Clancy, MD, Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) 
  • Michael S. Lauer, MD, FACC, FAHA, Director, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences (DCVS), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health
  • Sarah A. Kuehl, Analyst, U.S. Senate Budget Committee 
  • Moderator: Gail Wilenksy, PhD, Senior Fellow, Project HOPE/Health Affairs

10:15 – 10:30 am Break

10:30 – 11:45 am Defining Good Evidence to Inform Decision-Making and High-Value Health Care Services

  • Sean Tunis, MD, MSc, Founder and Director, Center for Medical Technology Policy
  • Nancy A. Dreyer, MPH, PhD, Chief of Scientific Affairs and Senior Vice President, Outcome Sciences Inc.
  • Barbara J. McNeil, MD, PhD, Health, Department of Health Care Policy and Ridley Watts Professor of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School; Practicing Radiologist, Brigham and Women's Hospital 
  • Kathleen A. Buto, Vice President, Health Policy, Johnson & Johnson
  • Moderator: Les Paul, MD, MS, Vice President, Clinical and Scientific Affairs, NPC

11:45 am – 12:15 pm Break

12:15 – 1:30 pm Luncheon Session/Keynote:

  • Janet Woodcock, MD, Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  • Introduction: Marie-Caroline Sainpy, U.S. Regional President-NE, Pfizer, Inc

1:30 – 1:45 pm Break

1:45 – 2:55 pm CER: Informing Public and Private Payer Decision-Making

  • Helen Darling, President, National Business Group on Health
  • Charles M. Yarborough, MD, MPH, Lead Medical Director, Director, Medical Strategies, Health and Wellness, Lockheed Martin Corporation
  • Douglas R. Hadley, MD, MBA, Medical Officer, Director Coverage Policy Unit, CIGNA HealthCare
  • Brian Sweet, BS Pharm, MBA, Chief Pharmacy Officer, Health Solutions, WellPoint, Inc.
  • Moderator: Carmella Bocchino, RN, MBA, Executive Vice President, America's Health Insurance Plans

2:55 – 3:05 pm Break

3:05 – 4:15 pm Utilizing CER at the Point of Care to Improve Patient Outcomes

  • Scott S. Young, MD, Senior Medical Director and Co-Executive Director, Care Management Institute, Kaiser Permanente
  • Walter "Buzz" Stewart, PhD, MPH, Associate Chief Research Officer, Center for Health Research, Geisinger Center for Health Research
  • Steven D. Pearson, MD, MSc, FRCP, President, Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) and Visiting Scientist, Department of Bioethics, National Institutes of Health
  • Myrl Weinberg, President, National Health Council
  • Moderator: Robert Mechanic, MBA, Executive Director, Health Industry Forum, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University

4:15 pm Adjourn