AHRQ Child and Adolescent Health Update

AHRQ Child and Adolescent Health Update
Volume 11, Number 03 - March 11, 2009

Today's Headlines:


1. Comparative Effectiveness Funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

2. Comparative Effectiveness Research: IOM seeks input on priorities for $1.1 billion program

3. Clinical and Comparative Effectiveness Research Methods II - Invitation to an AHRQ

Symposium

4. Call for Nominations for 2009 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards Program

5. Materials from AHRQ's Recent Technical Assistance Conference Call on Health IT Funding

Opportunity Announcements


1. Comparative Effectiveness Funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is excited about the new opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to provide patients, clinicians, and others evidence-based information to make informed decisions about health care. ARRA contains $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research. Of the total, $300 million is for AHRQ to build on its existing collaborative and transparent Effective Health Care program. This program allows for input from all perspectives into the development of the research and implementation of the findings.

Of the remaining funds, $400 million each will go to NIH and the Office of the HHS Secretary. The legislation calls on the Institute of Medicine to recommend research priorities for these funds and gather stakeholder input. A report is due June 30, 2009. In addition, the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research will be created to offer guidance and coordination on the use of these funds.

AHRQ is gearing up to make the most of this additional funding. We are undertaking a process to determine what will be funded, as guided by the Federal Coordinating Council, the IOM, and other external sources. We will work closely with NIH and the Office of the Secretary to ensure that we use these funds in the most effective manner and that we are coordinating our plans to maximize effectiveness of this important investment.

We will let you know about opportunities for the field to contribute to this enterprise as soon as possible. Go to http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/ to sign up for updates. Also, please go to the AHRQ Web site http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/grantix.htm, and check out AHRQ’s standing program and training award announcements.



2. Comparative Effectiveness Research: IOM seeks input on priorities for $1.1 billion program

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has been asked by Congress, in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to recommend priorities for spending on comparative effectiveness research (CER) to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The IOM’s Committee on Comparative Effectiveness Research Priorities seeks your suggestions for the committee’s consideration, as we gather input from important stakeholders in this research endeavor.

We invite you to submit your priorities via our data collection tool at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=704JA7NisuyMhdLvocyIFw_3d_3d by March 27, 2009 for incorporation into our database and committee consideration for the final report to the Secretary. Your submission will be available in a public document, but your contact information will remain confidential or you are free to leave the email and phone contact areas blank.


3. Clinical and Comparative Effectiveness Research Methods II - Invitation to an AHRQ Symposium

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, through its Effective Health Care program, will sponsor an invitational symposium on clinical and comparative effectiveness research methods. This 2-day symposium will be held in the first week of June 2009 (dates to be confirmed) at the AHRQ Conference Center. The symposium is a direct follow up to the 2006 AHRQ conference on Emerging Methods in Comparative Effectiveness and Safety; papers presented at that conference appeared in a 2007 Medical Care supplement (available at http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/healthInfo.cfm?infotype=nr&ProcessID=32).

The 2009 conference will focus on empirical studies and methodological advances appropriate for publication as a supplement in a peer-reviewed journal. Thus, preference will be given to research that can be presented at the symposium as a prelude to publication in the journal supplement and that will be complete or nearly so by early summer 2009.


4. Call for Nominations for 2009 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards Program

The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum are accepting applications for the 2009 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards, which recognize individuals and health care organizations that are making significant contributions in improving the safety and quality of patient care. Select for more information on the awards, including categories of awards, nomination forms, and information on past award recipients, access the Joint Commission's Web site. The deadline for submitting nominations is April 20.

5. Materials from AHRQ's Recent Technical Assistance Conference Call on Health IT Funding Opportunity Announcements

On January 13, AHRQ hosted a technical assistance conference call to provide an overview of AHRQ's new health IT funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) and information relevant to the health IT Special Emphasis Notice. During the call, AHRQ staff provided information found in the FOAs and responded to callers' requests for clarification. The transcript and text version of the slide presentation from the conference call are now available. AHRQ's health IT initiative is part of the Nation's strategy to put health IT to work in health care. Since 2004, AHRQ has invested more than $260 million in contracts and grants to more than 150 communities, hospitals, providers, and health care systems in 48 states to develop knowledge about and encourage adoption of health IT practices that improve quality. Select for more information on AHRQ's health IT projects and reports.
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