Prospects for Comparative Effectiveness Research Under Federal Health Reform

Abstract:     
Comparative Effectiveness Research is a type of health services research that could possibly transform the health care sector of the United States. At least that is what many federal policy makers and third party payers are hoping as health care costs continue to rise at alarming rates. In 2009, national health expenditures grew four percent to $2.5 trillion, or $8,086 per person, and accounted for 17.6 percent of GDP. This increase in health care costs threatens the success of newly enacted health reform as well as existing public and private health insurance programs and plans. This paper describes federally sponsored comparative effectiveness research and policy. In addition to laying out aspirations and apprehensions about the use of comparative effectiveness research, the paper addresses the prospects for comparative effectiveness research as a successful strategy for bending the proverbial cost curve in health care expenditures.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 11

Keywords: comparative effectiveness research, health policy, health law

Accepted Paper Series