Starting the conversation.

摘要

Comparative effectiveness research (CER) has drawn increasing attention since the passing of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. In section 1013 of this Act, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) was authorized to conduct and support research with a focus on outcomes, comparative clinical effectiveness, and appropriateness of Pharmaceuticals, devices, and health care services. The interest in this research has skyrocketed with the dollar1.1 billion Federal investment in CER with the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In 2003, MEDLINE reports 20 articles using the term "comparative effectiveness"; twice as many articles published using this term in the first month of 2011 alone. But, what is CER, and is this research really something new? A number of organizations have defined CER, but two are worth particular mention.