Senate Bill Proposes Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
The Facts
The Senate health care bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, includes provisions (detailed in Sections 6301 and 6302) establishing a nonprofit corporation, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The PCORI will conduct research and disseminate findings with respect to “the relative health outcomes, clinical effectiveness, and appropriateness” of medical treatments, services and items. The PCORI will not be permitted “to mandate coverage, reimbursement, or other policies for any public or private payer.” However, the government may use comparative clinical effectiveness research in coverage decisions “if such use [of the research] is through an iterative and transparent process which includes public comment and considers the effect on subpopulations” and under other constraints.
What’s at Stake
Regardless of whether this particular bill is passed, comparative effectiveness research is likely to become an ever greater part of how government determines whether and what it will choose to reimburse. Companies with a stake in governmental reimbursement will need to be aware of the direction of comparative effectiveness research and be prepared to justify services and products on that basis.
Steps to Consider
- Evaluate whether the products and services you offer have a comparative advantage over other products or services promising the same outcome.
- Evaluate what the clinical basis is for your comparative advantage, including any effect on subpopulations.
- Keep informed about the direction of the PCORI’s research agenda and initiatives to decide whether your area is under review.
- Be prepared to establish comparative clinical effectiveness if the PCORI’s research does not agree with the results of your own research on your products or services.
- Be prepared to participate in the public comment and review process if the government chooses to use comparative effectiveness in its coverage decisions, as allowed.
