Prioritizing Comparative-Effectiveness Research — IOM Recommendations | Health Care Reform 2009

Posted by NEJM • June 30th, 2009 John K. Iglehart Directed by Congress to rapidly develop a list of broad-based priorities for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to consider as it implements a new agenda for comparative-effectiveness research (CER), the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report recommending a portfolio of 100 study topics related to a range of diseases, research methods, and care models that are important to the health of the U.S. population. The IOM report,1 released June 30, also recommends research studies on rare diseases that disproportionately affect certain subgroups of the population, such as women, racial or ethnic minorities, and particular age groups. The panel concluded that “the most important priority of all should be the building of a broad and supportive infrastructure to carry out a sustainable national CER strategy” and that Congress and the secretary of health and human services “must take concerted steps to establish a robust CER enterprise.” Read More