Case Studies

An NIH study of treatments for high blood pressure, called the ALLHAT trial, shows some of the strengths and limitations of comparative effectiveness research to improve patient care. More...

Recent Blog Posts

PIPC chairman delivers speech to specialty docs on importance of patient centered CER
July 6, 2010 |

Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) chairman, Tony Coelho, recently delivered a speech on patient centered comparative effectiveness research (CER) in front of fifty specialty doctors from around the country, among others, at the Alliance for Specialty Medicine’s (ASM) “Capitol Hill Advocacy Conference.” The conference took place just a day before the specialty doctors met w

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Tony Coelho's recent speech on patient centered CER
June 24, 2010 |

Below: PIPC Chairman Tony Coelho's recent speech on patient centered CER. The speech was delivered on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at the Alliance for Specialty Medicine's “Capitol Hill Advocacy Conference,” in Washington, D.C.

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Lack of support for "evidence-based health care"— don't blame the patient
June 10, 2010 |

A new Health Affairs article concludes, based on focus groups and interviews, that "consumers will revolt if evidence-based efforts are perceived as rationing or as a way to deny them needed treatment."

You don't need to look any further than public reaction to the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force's updated recommendations on mammography screening to see the proof of this.
 
How should policy-makers react? Should they conclude that consumers, and even more so, patients, cannot be relied on to make evidence-based decisions, and therefore these decisions need to be made for them? Or should they conclude that evidence-based models of medical care and health delivery need to be carefully constructed so they have the trust and support of patients and consumers?

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September 2009

Keeping track of Congress

Submitted by PIPC Staff on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 19:19

PIPC will be keeping a close eye on the Senate Finance Committee’s work on health reform legislation today.  The Committee is expected to discuss possible revisions to the comparative effectiveness research language already in the proposed legislation. Recently, PIPC issued a statement in support of the language in the Chairman Baucus’s bill. 
 

PIPC remains optimistic

Submitted by PIPC Staff on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 18:22

PIPC remains optimistic that patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER) will be included in health reform legislation, despite its disappointment that the House Energy and Commerce Committee did not act on the bi-partisan patient-centered CER amendment during their work last week.  

PIPC Continues to Press on Comparative Effectiveness Research

WASHINGTON, DC - The Partnership to Improve Patient Care(PIPC), is disappointed that the House Energy and Commerce Committee did not act on the bipartisan Christensen-Inslee-Upton-Walden amendment, which promoted patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER).  The amendment has strong bipartisan support and would advance an objective, credible and independent CER program that meets the needs of all patients.
 

Baucus Reform Bill Keeps Comparative Effectiveness Out Of HHS

Comparative effectiveness provisions in Sen. Max Baucus' health care reform bill adhere largely to the stand-alone bill that the Finance Chair released earlier in the year, garnering support from drug industry stakeholders that have expressed concern about other proposals. Baucus' framework would keep comparative effectiveness research outside of HHS and would prohibit the department from making coverage determinations based solely on the results of comparative studies.
 

Congress is back at it

Submitted by admin on Tue, 09/22/2009 - 22:10

Tomorrow PIPC Chairman Tony Coelho will participate in a panel discussion on comparative effectiveness research (CER) here in Washington, DC.  With Congress back in session and healthcare reform taking center stage, PIPC is continuing to engage Members of Congress about the importance of patient-centered CER. 
 

MEDIA ADVISORY: Tony Coelho to Participate in Comparative Effectiveness Research Panel

Tony Coelho to Participate in Comparative Effectiveness Research Panel

WASHINGTON – Tony Coelho, chairman of the non-partisan, patient-focused, grassroots organization, Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) and author of the Americans with Disabilities Act will participate in a panel discussion on comparative effectiveness research (CER) tomorrow at the Blue Skies and Brickwork Conference:  Access to Care from the White House to the State House to Your House.

PIPC Supports Comparative Effectiveness Research Language in New Senate Health Reform Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - The Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC), a non-partisan, patient- focused, grassroots organization focused on securing patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER) voiced its strong support of the comparative effectiveness research provisions in Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus’s health reform proposal released today.

AARP Supports Good CER

Submitted by admin on Fri, 09/11/2009 - 21:18 | Posted in:

Recently the AARP announced its support of S. 1213, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Act – the same Senate CER bill that we at PIPC support.

From the AARP letter to Sens. Baucus and Conrad:

“[S. 1213] would create an independent Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and provide increased, stable funding to maintain our investment in research comparing the effectiveness of various treatments for given conditions.”

President Addresses Health Care Reform to Joint Session of Congress

Submitted by admin on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:00

Last night, the president spoke to a joint session of Congress and the American people about health care reform.

During his remarks, he said that both the “left” and the “right” have ideas on how to improve our nation's health system.  And he was right to say that we must come together to find common ground.

PIPC: A Strong Advocate for Health Reform

Submitted by Tony Coelho on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 03:33 | Posted in:

Despite recent media accounts, PIPC is decidedly not an "anti-reform" group. We are pro-reform, and we were established to promote sound, patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER). PIPC's mission statement, adopted in 2008 when the Partnership was founded, states that PIPC is "dedicated to supporting CER that strengthens physician and patient decision making, improves health care quality, and supports continued medical progress."