[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 132 (Wednesday, October 9, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S10224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRIST:
  S. 3084. A bill to provide for the conduct of a study concerning 
health services research; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
authorize an Institute of Medicine study to examine the field of health 
services research. The health services research is the primary source 
of information for policy makers, payers, managers, providers and the 
public concerning the organization, financing and performance of the 
American health care system. the Agency for Healthcare Research and 
Quality, AHRQ, is the lead Federal agency in this effort. However, many 
other federal partners, most institutes at the National Institutes of 
Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health 
Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 
Department of Defense, fund and use health services research 
extensively to advance their mission. The American health care system 
is facing significant problems with rapidly rising costs, a staggering 
number of uninsured, racial and ethic disparities, and a compelling 
need for safer, higher quality care. In the post-September 11 
environment, we add the need to assure adequate public health systems 
and emergency response capacity in hospitals. In this challenging 
environment, I am increasingly concerned that the information needed 
from research to address current and future problems in the American 
health care system may not be available when needed. Therefore, I am 
introducing legislation today that requests AHRQ to contract with the 
Institute of Medicine for a report on the adequacy of the organization 
and financing of the field of health services research for meeting the 
nation's future information needs. The report should focus on the 
Federal role in supporting health services research, and in particular, 
the role of AHRQ in leading the federal effort and coordinating the 
complementary roles of other Federal agencies, as well as the private 
foundations and corporations, that conduct and fund health services 
research.
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