We are in midst of a gradual, but important, transformation in health care delivery. There is increasing emphasis on shaping a system that makes optimal patient outcomes a priority. In this light, the Alliance for Aging Research has been paying close attention to Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s (PCORI) initial work to provide information on which treatments and technologies deliver the best results. It is our hope that for many people suffering from multiple chronic conditions in their later years, this information will aid in treatment decision-making and improve disease-management.
The National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) just released a report that is worth reading that reflects the views of researchers, government officials, payers and health care associations on comparative effectiveness research (CER) and its potential impact on health care decision-making. The report tells us that CER remains an important issue for these stakeholders and that they believe that this research will not only have an impact on patient-provider treatment choice, but also influence health care payment and delivery in the near future.
The report covers issues of importance to the Alliance from the inclusion of individual treatment effects in CER to the integration of real-world evidence into coverage and treatment decisions. Insights from publications like these will help elevate the dialogue on how to shape the health care system to meet the needs of an aging nation.
