PIPC Statement on CBO Report’s Discussion of Comparative Effectiveness Research

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) issued the following statement on the reports released today by the Congressional Budget Office:

As recognized by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), comparative effectiveness research (CER) can play a valuable role in informing health care decision-making and is an important element of the health care debate. PIPC appreciates CBO’s thoughtful discussion of this issue, and its recognition of potential concerns with use of comparative clinical and cost effectiveness research and its effect on patients and their health care providers.

Comparative effectiveness research can be a valuable tool to support individual clinical decision-making and improve health care quality. PIPC supports well-designed approaches to CER that protect patient access to innovative treatment options, supports doctor-patient decision making, and fosters continued medical innovation. Consistent with the PIPC’s policy principles (http://www.improvepatientcare.org/pipc-principles), any proposals to expand CER research should be centered on patient and provider needs and improved health care quality.

The Partnership to Improve Patient Care was formed in November 2008 to support proposals to expand the government’s role in comparative effectiveness research that are centered on patient and provider needs; raise awareness about the value of well-designed CER; and promote the important role of continued medical innovation as part of the solution to cost and quality challenges in health care. Partnership members include a wide range of health care organizations representing patient, provider and industry advocacy groups.

To learn more about PIPC, visit http://www.improvepatientcare.org.

SOURCE Partnership to Improve Patient Care