Thomson Reuters launches The Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research

Thomson Reuters Combines Expertise and Information Resources In Its New Center For Comparative Effectiveness Research

Ann Arbor, MI, February 1, 2011 – Thomson Reuters announced today that it has launched The Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research to help advance the quality and effective use of comparative effectiveness research (CER) in the U.S. healthcare system.

Comparative effectiveness research evaluates medical treatments to determine which work best in real-world settings. To do this, researchers must assess a comprehensive array of health-related outcomes for diverse patient populations. With nearly four decades of experience in this arena, Thomson Reuters is uniquely positioned to support CER initiatives with proprietary data, experienced researchers, and clinical decision support tools.

“Thomson Reuters works closely with healthcare payers and providers, manufacturers, scientists, and the federal government to manage and analyze data to guide healthcare decision making,” said William D. Marder, PhD, a healthcare economist and senior vice president at Thomson Reuters. “This places us in the forefront of information providers who can help the healthcare community apply comparative effectiveness research to improve everyday clinical practice.”

$1.1 Billion for Comparative Effectiveness Research

It's hard to imagine $1.1 billion. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 created the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research to coordinate comparative effectiveness research across the Federal government. The Council will specifically make recommendations for the $400 million allocated to the Office of the Secretary for CER.

ARRA provides:

• $300 million for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• $400 million for the National Institutes of Health, and
• $400 million for the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services

These funds are to support 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.
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.

So, that totals to $1.1 billion. Wow!  So, how many groups and organizations are going after this money?  Here's a link to the HHS.gov website where you can read about Sec. 804. Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research.

Senator John Cornyn collecting info on Sermo

Senator John Cornyn (R) from Texas is collecting info on Sermo about Comparative Effectiveness. Here are the questions he's asking Sermo physicians:

• What impact would one-size-fits-all coverage decisions from Washington have on your ability to make health care decisions with your individual patients?
• In your opinion, how effective would one-size-fits-all coverage decisions from Washington be in reducing “unnecessary” tests and treatments?

If you're a physician, what do you think about these questions? If you'd like to have some input, then vote on Sermo.