Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of AdvaMed, has released a statement on the comparative effectiveness research provisions in the economic stimulus legislation, just signed by President Obama.

Mr. Ubl stated: "AdvaMed continues to support comparative effectiveness research as a way to provide more information to patients and physicians about which treatments are most appropriate for an individual's unique medical needs. We appreciate the efforts of Senators Baucus, Conrad, Lautenberg, Harkin, Specter, Hatch, and Enzi, as well as the House New Democrat Coalition, to try to assure that the new comparative effectiveness program is one that benefits patients.

"We appreciate that changes were made to the report language to express the intent of Congress -- specifically that the funds under the program are to be used to study the medical effectiveness of different approaches to treating illness. The purpose of the research is to assist patients and health professionals in making better treatment decisions, not to mandate one-size-fits-all coverage decisions that would deny patients access to safe and effective treatments.
"We look forward to working with the Administration to carry out the intent of Congress as expressed in the report language and to establish a transparent process for conducting the research that will provide ample opportunity for input and comment from patients, health professionals and others with expertise in the diseases and treatments studied, including manufacturers.

"Patients deserve the best American medicine has to offer. AdvaMed and its member companies are committed to developing the medical technologies that better prevent, diagnose and treat disease."

The legislation states that the funding will be used to accelerate the development and dissemination of research assessing the comparative effectiveness of health care treatments and strategies, through efforts that: (1) conduct, support, or synthesize 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; and (2) encourage the development and use of clinical registries, clinical data networks, and other forms of electronic health data that can be used to generate or obtain outcomes data.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services will contract with the Institute of Medicine, and submit a report to the Congress and the Secretary by June 30, 2009, that includes recommendations on the national priorities for comparative effectiveness. The Secretary will also publish information on grants and contracts awarded with the funds provided by the legislation and will disseminate research findings from the grants and contracts to clinicians, patients, and the general public, as appropriate.

Adapted from a press release by AdvaMed
Information on the legislation from the Library of Congress' THOMAS site.

More Industry Headlines