On June 30, 2009 The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research both released reports, as mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to be submitted by June 30.

Among its many provisions, ARRA provided $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research (CER). This expansion of funding for CER, the largest ever federal investment in CER, carries significant potential opportunities for patients, and health care providers.
 
Institute of Medicine
 
ARRA required the Secretary of Health and Human Services to contract with the Institute of Medicine  to produce and submit a report to Congress and the Secretary. The report includes recommendations on national priorities for CER that the Secretary then must consider when disbursing the discretionary funds.
 
The IOM report: "100 Initial Priority Topics for Comparative Effectiveness Research" can be found here: CLICK HERE
 
The full report "Initial National Priorities for Comparative Effectiveness Research" can be found here: CLICK HERE 

Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research
 
ARRA also established the Federal Coordinating Council (FCC) for Comparative Effectiveness Research, with the purpose to coordinate CER and related health services research supported by federal agencies, including HHS, Veterans Affairs, and Defense.

The goal of the FCC is to reduce duplicative efforts and encourage coordinated and complementary use of resources. The Council was also charged with advising the President and Congress on strategies regarding CER.
 
The full report "The Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research Report to the President and the Congress" was released today and can be found here: CLICK HERE

 

The Executive Summary of the Report can be found here: CLICK HERE