ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — HHS’ Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality today announced the award of
$473 million in grants and contracts to support projects that will
help people make health care decisions based on the best evidence
of effectiveness. The funding announced today covers all of AHRQ’s
allocation and $173 million administered for the HHS Secretary by
AHRQ.
The projects will support patient-centered outcomes research,
also known as comparative effectiveness research, efforts in many
areas, including health care interventions in real world settings,
advanced use of the research findings by diverse populations,
development of effective patient registries and training and career
development for the next generation of researchers.
The awards are part of the investments made under the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which included $1.1 billion
to support patient-centered outcomes research. Of that total,
$300 million was designated to AHRQ and $400 million was designated
to be allocated at the discretion of the HHS Secretary for a
variety of patient-centered outcomes research and related
activities. An additional $400 million was directed to the
National Institutes of Health.
Patient-centered outcomes research is designed to inform health
care decisions by providing evidence and information on
the effectiveness, benefits and harms of different treatment
options. The evidence is generated from research studies that
compare drugs, medical devices, tests, surgeries or ways to deliver
health care in real world settings.
“Patient-centered outcomes research will give patients the
information they need to talk with their doctors about their
options for medical treatment,” said AHRQ Director Carolyn M.
Clancy, M.D. “The findings of this research also will strengthen
our health care system by ensuring that the care that is delivered
is based on the best possible
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