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Health Care Reform — Where Do We Go from Here?

"Interpreting Hazards: The Increasing Importance of "Antidote to Anecdote" in Managed Care" by Fairman et al

"Is "Value-Based" Value Wasted? Examining Value-Based Insurance Designs Through the Lens of Cost-Effectiveness" by Melnick et al

58% of Surgeries Performed in Hospitals are Outpatient, According to AHRQ/HCUP survey.

AHRQ Introduces New Online Technical Tutorial Series With First Module on HCUP Sample Design

Doctors Face 21% Cut In Medicare Payments.

AMCP Issues Summary of White House Health Care Reform Summit

Maximus To Continue Reviewing Medicare Part D Plan Coverage Determinations

Pharmacoeconomics to Get Bigger Budgets, According to Preliminary Survey Results (Source=Marketwire)

Healthcare Rationing by Proxy: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and the Misuse of the $50,000 Threshold in the US by Bridges et al.

The AMCP Format for Formulary Submissions, Version 3.0

Statistical Data Resources from AMCP for benchmarking in managed care

UnitedHealthcare has launched an innovative program that offers $20 discounts off certain prescription drug co-payments

Healthcare Technology News: National Health Expenditures Top 17% of GDP

UnitedHealthcare Creates Adult National Cancer Care Registry with Data and Analysis to Support Oncologists in the Fight against Cancer

Novartis’s Afinitor Cancer Drug Rejected by U.K. Cost Agency

NEJM: “Giving Teeth to Comparative-Effectiveness Research — The Oregon Experience” by Saha et al.

Oncology Innovative Pricing deal with NICE on lung cancer drug

“Medication Adherence and Enrollment in a Consumer-Driven Health Plan” by Chen,

FDA News: NICE Outlines Appeals Process for Drug Determinations

IBI: More Than Health Promotion: How Employers Manage Health and Productivity

PR Hub: NICE Recommends Approval of New Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Treatment Cimzia(R) (certolizumab pegol) With First of its Kind RA Patient Access Scheme

Healthcare Technology News: Privacy Survey - In Providers We Trust

NEJM article: ‘ Uncomfortable Arithmetic — Whom to Cover versus What to Cover’ by K. Baicker and A. Chandra

NEJM article: ‘ “Play-or-Pay” Insurance Reforms for Employers — Confusion and Inequity’ by B. Herring and M.V. Pauly

Centre for Reviews and Dissemination: Cost-effectiveness of interventions to promote physical activity: a modelling study

Do Health Politicians Really Listen to Health Economists? Observations from Europe by Mittendorf et al.

The Hospitalist: Evidence-Based Medicine Curveball

Health Care Reform and the Need for Comparative-Effectiveness Research

January 2010 Newsletter and Eisenberg Conference Series 2009 Are Now Available

Disease Management Care Blog: 10 Predictions for the Next Decade

Managed Care Vendor Sales Insight Article: Blue Cross Plans Join Initiative To Increase Transparency

Conference: Patient Experience and Patient Safety Culture, April 19-21

Funny Pharmacy Videos. These are Hysterical! Particularly "The PharmG's - Boom Intervention" Rap

Job Title Company

Health Economist - Health Outcomes Consultancy NHS Innovations London

Consultant (Health Economic Modelling) HERON Evidence Development

Senior Statistician Trinity Partners

Associate Director/Manager, Global (Health Economics Outcomes Research) Pfizer Inc.

Consultant, Marketing Research Trinity Partners

A Prescription for Change: How the Medicare Act Revises Hatch-Waxman to Speed Market Entry of Generic Drugs

The author reviews the pharmaceutical industry's patenting process as it has been impacted by the Hatch-Waxman and Medicare legislation which expedite review and approval for generic follow-on drugs. (Source: Stephanie Greene, Journal of Corporation Law, Winter 2005, last revised Oct 2009)

Agency for Health Care Research and Quality

Agency mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans.

Agency for International Development

Helps developing countries in their efforts to create demographic and health information systems and to improve decision making by identifying emerging problems and better understanding trends across countries. AID statistical activities include measuring the impact of immunizations, HIV/AIDS, and other infectious diseases, and studying methodological approaches to collecting the core data needed for program planning, monitoring, surveillance, and evaluation.

Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry

(ATSDR) in the Dept of Health and Human Services (HHS) conducts public health assessments, health studies, and health surveillance for those exposed to hazardous materials, and maintains exposure and disease registries for long- term follow-up or specific scientific studies. ATSDR analyzes the statistical significance of human disease, biomarkers, and other health outcomes in the presence of environmental contamination to establish possible relationships between exposure and health.

AHRQ Online Store

Order AHRQ's most recent releases here.

AHRQ: Secretary Sebelius Highlights two new reports on Health Care Quality

HHS Secretary Sebelius Highlights two new reports on Health Care Quality, says improving quality is key component of Health Reform. She noted: * 40% of recommended care is not received by patients; * 7/10 adults with mood, anxiety, or impulse disorders receive inadequate or no treatment at all * Disparities exist in healthcare among minorities compared with Caucasians. * Healthcare Associated Infections are rising, threatening patient safety.

Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research

The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research is an international collaboration based in the WHO Geneva. It has its origins in the recommendations of the 1996 report of WHO's Ad Hoc Committee on Health Research which identified lack of health policy and systems research as a key problem impeding the improvement of health outcomes in low and middle income countries. It aims to promote the generation and use of health policy and systems research as a means to improve the health systems of developing countries.

Ambulatory Care, Hospitalization, and Mortality Data

Links to HCUPS, MEPS, NHDS, etc.

Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health (ACERH)

ACERH is an independent research centre that was established in 2005 with a large grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) under the Health Services Research Program. The Centre is Australia’s first inter-university centre for health economics. It comprises research staff and students at three of Australia’s research-intensive (Group of Eight) universities: The Australian National University, The University of Queensland and the University of Western Australia and others

Bureau of National Health Insurance, Taiwan

The Bureau of National Health Insurance has faced many major challenges in its 14 years of existence, but through the combined efforts of the Bureau, the health care community, local industry and Taiwan's people, we have successfully expanded the country's health care services network, improved the quality of care, and made health insurance information more accessible. Consequently, we have been able to increase care for socially and economically disadvantaged people and to steadily improve our administrative efficiency and service quality. Today, Taiwan's National Health Insurance system has become a model that other countries seek to emulate and has received widespread praise in the international media.

Bureau of Primary Health Care (US)

A core set of information appropriate for monitoring and evaluating health center performance and reporting on trends is collected through UDS. UDS collects basic demographic information on populations served, such as race/ethnicity and insurance status of patients, birth outcomes, etc. Reported by the following groups: Community Health Center; Migrant Health Center; Health Care for the Homeless; Public Housing Primary Care;and any section 330 funded Health Center

Catalan Agency for Health Technology Assessment (CAHTA)

The CAHTA provides information based on scientific evidence and the analysis of the health scenario, its endpoint being to ensure that the introduction, adoption and utilisation of medical technologies is carried out according to criteria of efficacy, safety, effectiveness and efficiency which have been scientifically demonstrated, as well as offering support to decision-making at different levels of the health system. Moreover, its core functions include planning, coordination and assessment of health research in the field of health centres, services and establishments linked to the Catalan Health Service (CatSalut) with a view to promoting research geared towards the health needs of the population and of knowledge of the health system

CBO June 16, 2009 Report on Health Care Reform

Health Care Reform and the Federal Budget

Center for Disease Control

(CDC) provides data on morbidity, epidemiologic surveillance of infectious diseases, chronic diseases, occupational diseases and injuries, vaccine efficacy, and safety.

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services

In the Dept of Health and Human Services (HHS) collect administrative data associated with oversight of the Medicare and Medicaid programs; study the quality of care delivered by those programs; and sponsor a survey of current Medicare beneficiaries to obtain data on health care utilization and expenditures, including expenditures not covered by Medicare, the sources of health care coverage and payment, and the assets, income, health, functional status, work history, and family support systems of the Medicare population.

Community Health Status Indicators Project Health Resources Services Administration, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services

3,082 reports of health status indicators, one for each county in the nation. (Note: Data retired as of October 11, 2002)

Community Tracking Study - Center for Studying Health System Change

Community Reports provide information and insights about developments in the 12 communities that HSC is studying intensively over time to better understand the changing health system and variations across markets. The Center for Studying Health System Change is a nonpartisan research organization and “seeks to provide objective, incisive analyses that lead to sound policy and management decisions, with the ultimate goal of improving the health of the American public.

Comparative Effectiveness Research Funding website

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 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.

Consumer Expenditure Survey - Bureau of Labor Statistics

Details of consumer health care expenditures

Council of Economic Advisors

The US Council of Economic Advisors has released a report stating that slowing the growth in healthcare spending from 6% to 4.5% per year would create 500,000 jobs a year and increase annual income for a family of 4 by $2,600/year over the next decade. By covering the 46M who lack healthcare benefits, they say this coverage would improve the federal budget, allow job mobility, and increase the economic well-being of the US by $100B/year.

Current Population Survey – U.S. Census Bureau

Annual Demographic Survey (March CPS Supplement) includes health insurance coverage.

Danish Institute for Health Services Research

Data User’s Reference Guide* - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

The purpose of the Data Users Reference Guide is to introduce health care data users to the Medicare and Medicaid program data maintained by CMS.” Details of raw data files, intended for use by researchers and analysts.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Good research information on VA research and development, funding opportunities, updated guidance and deadlines, etc.

Developing Nations Special Issue

This includes HTA, CEA, and discussion of barriers for Asia as a whole, Thailand, Taiwan, Uganda, Latin America and Caribbean, and low- and middle-income countries. (Source: Pharmaeconomics, Nov. 1. 2009)

Directory of Data Resources* - Department of Health and Human Services

A compilation of information about virtually all major data collection systems sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Do Politicians Really Listen to Health Economists? Observations from Europe

ISPOR Connections discusses perspectives on the use and value of health economics from a governmental perspective from the UK, Germany, Sweden, Spain, The Netherlands. (Source: Mittendorf, ISPOR Connections, Nov/Dec. 2009, p.15)

Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique

EPC Topics in Progress

A list of topics for which work has begun on evidence reports from the Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs) from AHRQ.

Expansion of Quality of Care Measures (Q-SPAN)

AHRQ Project designed to strengthen the science base of quality measurement while expanding the scope and availability of validated, ready-to-use measures. Q-SPAN builds on past work in quality measurement by public and private organizations through eight cooperative agreements to develop and test additional clinical performance measures for specific conditions, patient populations, and health care settings.

Fastats from Nat

QuickStats (from CDC/NCHS) ranging from Alzheimers to Work Loss Days. Key state data available too. Get email updates on relevant areas. Linkds to NHANES, NCHS, NHIS, NIS, LSOA, NSFG, SLAITS

FDA Code of Federal Regulations

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is a codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

Fedstats

Gateway to statistics from over 100 agencies. Sort by health and get links to AHRQ, CDC, CMS, etc. etc.

Finding and Using Health Statistics: A Self Study Course** - National Information Center on Health Services Research & Health Care Technology (NICHSR)

A very useful interactive tutorial.

Food and Drug Administration

Press releases, backgrounders, meeting calendars, etc.

Glossary of terms in health economics

From a self-study course developed by the National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR). Other modules include scope of appraisal, resources, identification and retrieval, critical appraisal/analysis.

HCUP

AHRQ has released its 2007 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS)—the most powerful, all-payer emergency department database in the United States developed from data from over 120 million emergency department (ED) visits at more than 1,000 community hospitals. NEDS can be used be study a range of issues, including the cost of emergency care, medical treatment effectiveness, and the quality of, access to, and use of emergency department care.

HCUP Central Distributor

Summer 2009: AHRQ is anticipating the upcoming release of a new publicly available database, the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS)for 2006 data. The NEDS can be used to create national estimates of emergency department (ED) visits, both treat-and-release visits and those resulting in a hospital admission. The NEDS contains 27 million records (unweighted) of clinical and non-clinical information on patients, regardless of payer-including those covered by Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and the uninsured

HCUP Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files

2009 updates on HCUP Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files, which is designed to supplement the data elements in the NIS, KID, and SID databases (all contain data on total charges for each hospital)

HCUPnet

Quick Links for data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Click here for access to: *National Statistics on All Stays *National Statistics on Mental Health Hospitalizations *State Statistics on All Stays *National Statistics on Children *National and State Statistics on Hospital Stays by Payer (Medicare, Medicaid, Private, Uninsured) *Quick National or State Statistics (inpatient sample, etc.)

HCUPnet– Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

national statistics and trends and selected State statistics about hospital stays.

Health Canada Online

In partnership with provincial and territorial governments, Health Canada provides national leadership to develop health policy, enforce health regulations, promote disease prevention and enhance healthy living for all Canadians.

Health Care: Technology Assessments Completed

AHRQ's Technology Assessment program uses state-of-the-art methodologies for assessing clinical utility of medical interventions.

Health Economic Appraisal Self Study

Self study education course from National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR). This module explains why health economic evaluations require appraisal; explains each of the key areas to consider in the critical appraisal of health economic evaluation studies; Helps you appraise a selected paper.

Health Economics Research Institute

HERI seeks to advance the cause of improving health care delivery systems, with an emphasis on market-based public policy solutions with limited government responsibility, through research, sponsoring seminars, coalition building, and other means consistent with the mission

Health Service Journal: Unneeded surgery may be costing the NHS millions

Is unneeded surgery costing NHS millions? The Health Service Journal of the UK says "yes". Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are required and public hospital ratings based on PROMs available by November 2009.

Health Services and Sciences Research Resources*** - National Information Center on Health Services Research & Health Care Technology (NICHSR)

Searchable database of information about research datasets and instruments/indices. Includes description of and links to resources. Very useful finding aid.

Health Services Research Internet Sites National Information Center on Health Services Research & Health Care Technology (NICHSR)

Selected HSR Web Sites - see especially Health Policy and Economics and also Data Sets and Data Sources

Health Systems in Transition (HiT) profiles

HiT profiles seek to provide relevant information to support policy-makers and analysts in the development of health systems in Europe. They are building blocks that can be used: * to learn in detail about different approaches to the organization, financing and delivery of health services and the role of the main actors in health systems;* to describe the institutional framework, the process, content and implementation of health care reform programmes; * to highlight challenges and areas that require more in-depth analysis; and * to provide a tool for the dissemination of information on health systems and the exchange of experiences of reform strategies between policy-makers and analysts in different countries.

Health United States 2009 Report

Health, United States, 2009 (with special emphasis on Medical Technology) is the 33rd report on the health status of the United States, prepared by Dept. HHS. The 2009 Chartbook includes 36 charts, with 14 charts illustrating medical technology. There are also 150 trend tables organized around four major subject areas: health status and determinants, health care utilization, health care resources, and health care expenditures. Disability and income/education data are included.

Healthcare 411

"Healthcare 411" is a new series produced by AHRQ with podcasts and other information to assist consumers with taking charge of the quality of their healthcare. Are you working with AHRQ on these informational pieces? Copyright Healthcare 411. U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Rockville, MD

Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, 1988-1994

Download the data! Both databases contain patient-level information for inpatient hospital stays using national sample of about 900 hospitals. The State Inpatient Database (SID) covers inpatient care in community hospitals in 12 States that represent nearly half of all U.S. hospital discharges.

Healthy People 2000 (National Center for Health Statistics)

Downloadable file includes 26 objectives based on mortality data. State-level mortality for five population subgroups; Numbers of deaths. Data are also presented for HIV-related mortality.

Healthy People 2010

Healthy People 2010 challenges individuals, communities, and professionals, indeed all of us to take specific steps to ensure that good health, as well as long life, are enjoyed by all. This includes leading indicators, guidelines, etc.

HHS Measure Inventory

HHS Measure Inventory is an inventory of the measures that are currently being used by the Divisions in HHS for quality measurement, improvement, and reporting. The Department's goal is to further advance collaboration among members of the quality community and to advance the effective use and harmonization of quality of care measures. This is the first time a comprehensive list of quality measures used by the Department has been posted in a single location.

HHS State Report

HHS State Report includes statistics on health care cost and quality for each of the 50 states in US. Examples include % increase in health premiums, costs of care for uninsured, % of state residents without health insurance, and quality ratings.

Hospital Compare - A quality tool provided by Medicare

In this tool you will find information on how well hospitals care for patients with certain medical conditions or surgical procedures, and results from a survey of patients about the quality of care they received during a recent hospital stay. This information will help you compare the quality of care hospitals provide. Talk to your doctor about this information to help you, your family and your friends make your best hospital care decisions.

ICD-9 Download

Include the entire text of ICD-9-CM by year, up to 2007

Identification and Retrieval of Published Health Economic Evaluation Studies

Self study education course from National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR). This module describes the definition and purpose of economic evaluation studies; outlines and highlights the characteristics of the health economic evaluation literature; outlines an effective approach to identifying and retrieving economic evaluation studies from bibliographic databases; considers how economic evaluation studies are indexed in the two major bibliographic databases, MEDLINE and EMBASE

Indian Health Service

Provides vital event, demographic, social, and economic statistics on American Indians and Alaska Natives living in IHS service areas, as well as patient care and morbidity information for those who use IHS services.

Medicaid and National Health Care Reform

This article discusses the role of Medicaid in Health Care reform. (Source: Sara Rosenbaum, J.D., NEJM, Oct. 14, 2009)

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)

Download the data and the questionnaire! Nationally representative survey of health care use, expenditures, sources of payment, and insurance coverage for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population, as well as a national survey of nursing homes and their residents. AHRQ survey is designed to yield comprehensive data that estimate the level and distribution of health care use and expenditures, monitor the dynamics of the health care delivery and insurance systems, and assess health care policy implications.

Medical products agency

The Swedish authority for registration of new drugs. Like FDA but in Sweden.

Medicare HMO Home Page

Oriented toward consumers, but educational.

MEPS data: Statistical Brief #245

MEPS data: Average number of total and refill prescriptions by select person characteristics (2006), Statistical Brief #245.

MEPS HC-112: 2007 Medical Conditions File

Released as an ASCII file (with SAS and SPSS programming statements, and also in SAS transport format), this public use file provides information on the household-reported medical conditions reported in the 2007. (Source: AHRQ -- MEPS, Nov. 2009)

MEPS HC-113: 2007 Full Year Consolidated Data File

This public use file (released as ASCII with SAS / SPSS statements)provides information collected on a nationally representative sample of the civilian non-institutionalized population of the United States for calendar year 2007. (Source: AHRQ - MEPS Nov. 2009)

MEPS: Choice of ACEI and ACEII inhibitors for HTN

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey: Choice of ACEI and ACEII inhibitors for HTN

MEPS: Expenditures on Insurance

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey: Expenditures on insurance (how much it costs)

MEPS: Five most costly children's conditions

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey: Five most costly chidren's conditions

MEPS: healthcare costs for chronic conditions for non-elderly

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey: Healthcare costs for chronic conditions for non-elderly

MEPS: Insurance Coverage

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey: Insurance Coverage (who's covered)

MEPS: Medical/Rx costs for asthma

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey: Medical/Rx costs for asthma and whether daily asthma prevention is being taken.

Models that Decrease Hospitalization and Improve Outcomes for Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Illnesses

A report commissioned by the National Coalition on Care Coordination by Randall Brown, PhD, Mathematica Policy Research, March 2009

National Cancer Institute

(NCI) in the Dept of Health and Human Services (NIH) conducts extensive surveillance research on cancer incidence, mortality, morbidity, survival, patterns of cancer care, cancer risk factors and health practices, cost of care, health systems operations applied to cancer control, and progress against cancer.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

(NCCAM) in the National Instistutes of Health (NIH) supports research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), trains researchers in CAM, and disseminates information to the public and professionals on which CAM modalities work, which do not, and why.

National Center for Health Statistics

(NCHS) in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the principal agency that produces general-purpose health data. NCHS is responsible for the collection, maintenance, analysis, and dissemination of statistics on the nature and extent of the health, illness, and disability of the U.S. population; the impact of illness and disability on the economy; the effects of environmental, social, and other health hazards; health care costs and financing; family formation, growth, and dissolution; and vital events (i.e., births and deaths).

National Centre for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

National Eye Institute

(NEI) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) carries out studies of the causation, prevention, and treatment of eye diseases and vision disorders.

National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC)

A comprehensive database of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and related documents produced by the Agency for HealthCare Research and Quality(AHRQ), in partnership with the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP).

National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC)

A public resource from AHRQ and HHS for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. They have a "What's New this Week" that is very useful!

National Health Insurance Fund, Tanzania

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

(NHLBI) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducts basic epidemiological research related to heart, lung, and blood diseases, as well as research in theoretical statistics and biometric methods.

National Home and Hospice Care Data

Public use files from NCHS

National Hospital Discharge Survey

Contains a smaller sample than the HCUP-3 dataset above, but the data are cross-validated using a sample of medical records.

National Institute Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

(NIBIB) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) fosters, conducts, supports, and administers research and training programs in Bioinformatics, Image Processing, and Computational Modeling.

National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disease

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

(NICHD) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) directs an epidemiological and statistical program that includes research on risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes, coordinates clinical trials for the evaluation of strategies of obstetric management and neonatal intensive care, and analyzes data to understand recent trends in indicators of maternal and child health.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

(NIDCR) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) studies the impact of sociodemographic and economic trends on oral health, surveys oral health knowledge and practices of health providers, and investigates the oral health status of populations. The Institute also provides support to NCHS for the inclusion of an oral health component in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Disease

NIDDK) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) studies recipients of human growth hormones; the epidemiology of diabetes and its complications; digestive diseases and their complications; and major chronic kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases.

National Institute of Environmental Health Services

(NIEHS) conducts a variety of activities such as the design and analysis of animal carcinogenicity experiments; statistical studies in genetic toxicology, mathematical modeling of molecular phenomena, and risk assessment methodology development; and a training program and consulting service, including efforts focusing on bioinformatics and the tools needed to analyze and interpret microarray data.

National Institute on Aging

(NIA) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducts research on aging and age-associated diseases and conditions using population-based epidemiological and biometric methods.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

(NIAAA) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) maintains the Alcohol Epidemiology Data System, a national repository of alcohol-related databases; sponsors a longitudinal survey of alcohol use, abuse, and dependence; and makes available information on alcohol-related policies adopted by state governments.

National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Disease

(NIAID) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) coordinates a multi-centered clinical trial of a comprehensive intervention program to reduce asthma morbidity in inner city children; creates databases containing chemical structures and biological data in order to monitor and analyze developments in the chemotherapy of HIV and opportunistic infections; makes available information on clinical trials that evaluate experimental drug treatments; and supports training activities that include statistical and clinical research training on AIDS and emerging infectious diseases, as well as training in biostatistical and data management and methods for analysis of HIV vaccine trials.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

(NIDCD) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducts epidemiologic studies related to deafness and other communication disorders, and maintains a data system to facilitate the monitoring of levels and analysis of trends in relevant health problems.

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research

(NIDRR) in the Dept of Education supports national data centers that coordinate data collection activities of burn injury, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury model systems program grantees and provide technical assistance on data collection methodology. In addition, NIDRR funds a Rehabilitation Research Training Center on demographics and statistics and funds a small number of field-initiated projects that conduct secondary analyses on existing data sets.

National Institute on Drug Abuse

(NIDA) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports research on the nature, patterns, extent, causes, consequences, prevention, and treatment of drug abuse and works with state, Federal, and international governmental agencies to develop drug abuse surveillance capability through the establishment of epidemiology networks.

National Institutes of Health

supports data collections and analyses examining populations training for and participating in medical research as well as biological and medical sciences instrumentation and research facilities, and maintains a database on characteristics of America's medical school faculties.

National Institutes of Mental Health

(NIMH) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides biostatistical analysis and data management for studies in support of its mission to reduce the burden of mental illness and behavioral disorders through research on mind, brain, and behavior.

National Quality Measures Clearinghouse™ (NQMC)

NQMC is a public repository for evidence-based quality measures and measure sets from AHRQ and HHS.

NEJM Article: Debate about Funding Comparative-Effectiveness Research

"The proposal to include $1.1 billion for comparative-effectiveness research (CER) in the federal stimulus package encountered a vigorous and well-coordinated backlash. The campaign to gut this funding ultimately failed, but the debate it engendered and the resonance of the opposition's arguments in both lay and policy circles reveal much about the issues that will surround such research and its application in the coming years."

NEJM Article: Does Comparative-Effectiveness Research Threaten Personalized Medicine

"The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act gives comparative-effectiveness research (CER) a large boost in funding over the next 2 years. Despite a consensus that better information about the relative effectiveness of different medical interventions is needed to improve the quality and value of care, some view CER with skepticism."

NEJM Article: The Neglected Purpose of Comparative-Effectiveness Research

"On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law an initiative providing $1.1 billion to support research on the comparative effectiveness of drugs, medical devices, surgical procedures, and other treatments for various conditions. This comparative-effectiveness research (CER) initiative has generated considerable controversy. "

New Report Shows Consumer Health Informatics Applications Can Improve Health Care Outcomes

A new Web page on consumer health information technology (health IT) applications is now available on AHRQ. (Source AHRQ, Nov 2009)

NEW REPORT: Latin American Pharmaceutical Market Outlook To 2014: Policy environment, market analysis, forecasts and growth opportunities

For more information on the cost/ content of this report contact Daniel Healy on 0044 207 551 9563 or dhealy@globalbusinessinsights.com

Newswise Medical News: Comparison is Key to Lower Costs, Better Outcomes from Medications

Patients can expect significant savings and better outcomes from their prescription medications when health care professionals use comparative effectiveness research, according to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination

Produce and disseminate reviews concerning the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of healthcare interventions. The aim is to identify and review the results of good quality health research and to disseminate actively the findings to key decision makers in the NHS and to consumers of health care services.

NICE Outlines Appeals Process for Drug Determinations

Drugmakers appealing a final appraisal determination will be allowed to use three basic arguments, including unfair action by the institute. (Source: FDAnews Drug Daily Bulletin, Feb. 3, 2010)

NICE Recommends Approval of New Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Treatment Cimzia(R) (certolizumab pegol) With First of its Kind RA Patient Access Scheme

In a novel move for drugs in RA, manufacturer UCB has worked with the Department of Health to provide a clear, cost effective alternative for people with RA through a Patient Access Scheme. The UCB deal includes offering the new treatment to all eligible RA patients free of charge for the first 12 weeks, regardless of whether they respond to treatment or not (source=PRHub)

NICE Stats Spur Controversy and Back Patting

With several drugs exceeding predicted use and several used less than predicted, the annual report which shows how NICE approval has affected medicine uptake in the UK has received mixed reviews. (Source: Sarah Houlton, PharmExecBlog.com, September 23, 2009)

North in middle of health league table, aims to do better

That's the gist of a new report assessing the Northland District Health Board performance over a range of targets for the first national health performance league. (Source: Mike Dinsdale, The Northern Advocate, Nov. 24, 2009)

NQMC: How to Submit Measures

Suggest evidence-based quality measures and measure sets for possible inclusion in the National Quality Measures Clearinghouse™ (NQMC)

NYT: European Court Sides With Drug Companies Over Pricing Matter

Europe’s highest court handed the pharmaceutical industry a victory on Tuesday, saying that regulators should reconsider whether efforts by drug makers to prevent traders from exploiting price differences across Europe should be allowed. (Source: James Kanter, NYT, October 6, 2009)

OASIS

OASIS- Online Analytical Statistical Information System of the Georgia Division of Public Health. A web based tool for Public Health and public policy analysis. The site includes many sources of relevant content, mapping to census tract level and demographic profiling.

Pharma Comes Under Fire for Jump in Rx Prices

Drug prices typically rise when legislation is pending. With the 9.3% increase, Congress is taking Pharma to task. (Source: George Koroneos, PharmaExec. Dec. 9, 2009)

PharmaVoice "Obamaceuticals: The Good, The Bad, The Controversial, and the Undecided."

Industry leaders review the elements of President Obama’s healthcare reform plan and how these initiatives may affect the industry.

Prices and Wages from Bureau of Labor Services

Wages by area and occupation

Product Approvals: FDA

Monthly listing.

PROMIS

Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) initiative stablishes a collaborative relationship between NIH and individual research teams through a cooperative agreement (U01) mechanism. The broad objectives of the PROMIS network are to: * Develop and test a large bank of items measuring patient-reported outcomes * Create a computerized adaptive testing system that allows for efficient, psychometrically robust assessment of patient-reported outcomes in clinical research involving a wide range of chronic diseases * Create a publicly available system that can be added to and modified periodically and that allows clinical researchers to access a common repository of items and computerized adaptive tests. The network will collaborate on the collection of self-reported data from diverse populations of individuals with a variety of chronic diseases, using agreed-upon methods, modes, and questionnaires.

QualityTools

QualityTools is an AHRQ-sponsored compilation of practical tools for assessing, measuring, promoting, and improving the quality of health care. Its purpose is to give health plans, providers, purchasers, consumers, and policymakers easy access to a variety of resources they can use to improve the delivery of care, inform decisions, and educate people about their health care needs.

Reimbursement Briefing: New FY 2010 Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Final Rule -- What Your Hospital Needs to Know

90-Minute Audio Webcast on CD-Rom; fees apply. (Source: Health Resources Online)

Report: Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (Report to the President and the Congress)

The Annual Report on Comparative Effectiveness Research contains information describing current Federal activities on comparative effectiveness research and recommendations for such research conducted or supported from funds made available by the Recovery Act.

ResearchMatch brings volunteers and reserchers together

The US National Institutes of Health has set up a national patient recruitment registry to connect clinical trial volunteers with study sponsors. (Source: ResearchMatch.org)

Secretary Sebelius Highlights Two New Reports on Health Care Quality

Sources and Characteristics of Information Relating to Health Care Financing in the US

Self study education course from National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR). Goals of module include: 1) the significant trends in spending, outcomes, and access within the U.S. health care system; and; 2)the main sources of literature and data relating to health care financing in the U.S.

Spending by Consumers on Health Care: A Data Brief

Prepared for Congress December 2007.

Statistical Resources on the Web

University of Michigan Library - A statistical portal. Links to health stats (example, Deaths; disability; Health Care; Health Insurance; HMOs; International Life Tables; Prescription Drugs; Social Security Death Index; Surgery; transplants; Vital Statistics, etc.) Demographics: population, race, ethnicity, etc.

Study finds Medicare prescription benefit program has exceeded expectations

The program created to provide Medicare recipients with prescription drug benefits exceeded expectations during its first two years, extending pharmacy coverage to most seniors while reducing their overall spending on drugs, according to a new RAND Corporation study. (Source: RAND, Aug. 2009)

Subtance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

(SAMHSA) in the Dept of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides information on health problems related to the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol (the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention); substance abuse treatment (the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment); the mental health condition of the population (the Center for Mental Health Services); and the prevalence and incidence of substance abuse and its medical impact (the Office of Applied Studies).

Tables for Presribed Drugs by total purchases

Tables for Presribed Drugs by total purchases. (Source: AHRQ -- MEPS, Nov 2009)

The Health Care Status Quo

HHS State Report has recently been issued, including statistics on health care cost and quality for each of the 50 states in US. Examples include % increase in health premiums, costs of care for uninsured, % of state residents without health insurance, and quality ratings.

The Market Structure of the Health Insurance Industry

The market structure of the U. S. health industry not only reflects the nature of health care, but also its origins in the 1930's and its evolution in succeeding decades. This report discusses how the current health insurance market structure affects the two policy goals of expanding insurance coverage and containing health care costs. (Source: D. Andrew Austin and Thomas L. Hungerford, weSRCH, Nov. 17, 2009)

The New Yorker Article: The Cost Conundrum

"Providing health care is like building a house. The task requires experts, expensive equipment and materials, and a huge amount of coördination. Imagine that, instead of paying a contractor to pull a team together and keep them on track, you paid an electrician for every outlet he recommends, a plumber for every faucet, and a carpenter for every cabinet. Would you be surprised if you got a house with a thousand outlets, faucets, and cabinets, at three times the cost you expected, and the whole thing fell apart a couple of years later?"

The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)

Earlier this year, NICE was given the power to oversee the review of clinical and health elements of The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). They have recently proposed a list of potential new indicators for QOF, and are awaiting negotiations between NHS employers and the British Medical Association who have the final say. (Source: PharmaTimes)

The Scope of Health Economics

Self study education course from National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR)in 2 parts: Part 1 - outlines the scope of the subdiscipline of health economics and highlights the range of potential information required; Part 2 - outlines and highlights the type of information that may be required and key sources of that information

TV Review: The Price of Life

BBC Documentary "The Price of Life" discussed NICE and is causing much controversy.

U.S. Census Bureau Home Page

Downloadable files on demographics, maps, etc.

Ukraine Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report Q4 2009

Market Report: Ukraine Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report Q4 2009 (Source: Business Monitor International, Oct 2009)

US Health Resources and Services Administration

(HRSA) in the Dept of Health and Human Services (HHS) collects data on general health services, the health professions workforce, and resource issues related to access, equity, quality, and cost of care. HRSA maintains the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients and the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

US Pharmacopoeia

Official public standards-setting authority for all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and other healthcare products manufactured and sold in the United States.

USA’s Budget Office reviews promotional spending for prescription drugs

The US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released a brief highlighting trends in promotional spending for prescription drugs and market characteristics that influence promotional strategies. (Source: The Pharma Letter

Use of Bayesian Techniques in Randomized Clinical Trials: A CMS Case Study

Available June 25-July 10, 2009 for public comment.

Webcast: New ICD-10 Coding in US

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized its proposal to adopt the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) coding system in the U.S. (Soruce: Covance Market Access Services, October 27, 2009)

World Bank, Health, Nutrition & Population Department

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