[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 3 (Thursday, January 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 600-601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-69]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 
2003; Section 1013: Identification of Priority Topics for Effective 
Health Care Research

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION:  Notice of invitation to submit research recommendations.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services invites 
suggestions from interested organizations and knowledgeable individuals 
regarding the highest priorities for research, demonstration, and 
evaluation projects to support and improve the Medicare, Medicaid, and 
State Children Health Insurance (SCHIP) programs.
    The research and other activities undertaken and authorized by the 
above-captioned or above referenced statutory provision may address:
    1. The outcomes, comparative clinical effectiveness, and 
appropriateness of health care items and services (including 
prescription drugs); and
    2. Strategies for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of 
such programs, including the ways in which such items and services are 
organized, managed, and delivered under such programs.
    The statute:
    a. Requires the establishment of a priority setting process for 
identifying the most important topics to address,
    b. Establishes a timetable for development of an initial priority 
list and completion of the research; and
    c. Requires ongoing consultation with relevant stakeholders.
    To review the text of section 1013 of the Medicare Prescription 
Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, please visit Section 
1013. Research on Outcomes of Health Care Items and Services (PDF 21.7 
KB) or http://www.medicare.gov/medicarereform/108s1013.htm (text).
    Current priority conditions being studied focus on topics 
particularly relevant to Medicare beneficiaries. The

[[Page 601]]

next set of priority conditions will be expanded to include conditions 
relevant to the Medicaid and SCHIP programs.
    The current priority conditions are:
     Arthritis and non-traumatic joint disorders.
     Cancer.
     Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
     Dementia including Alzheimer's disease.
     Depression and other mood disorders.
     Diabetes mellitus.
     Ischemic heart disease.
     Peptic ulcer disease and dyspepsia.
     Pneumonia.
     Stroke and hypertension.

DATES: Research recommendations for the next priority conditions list 
must be received by March 1, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Recommendations for consideration and possible inclusion in 
the next priority list may be submitted electronically to the Effective 
Health Care Program Web site, http://www.EffectiveHealthCare.ahrq.gov, 
or e-mailed to [email protected]">Effective[email protected].
    Recommendations may also be mailed to: AHRQ Effective Health Care 
Program c/o Center for Outcomes and Evidence, Agency for Healthcare 
Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850.
    All comments will be posted in an electronic reading room at: 
http://www.EffectiveHealthCare.ahrq.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Effective Health Care Program at (301) 
427-1502 or [email protected]">Effective[email protected].
    More information about the Effective Health Care Program is 
available at http://www.EffectiveHealthCare.ahrq.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Recommendations for research that are made 
by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the States, and 
other stakeholders will be reviewed and prioritized by a steering 
committee composed of representatives from the following components of 
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
     Office of the Secretary.
     Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE).
     Assistant Secretary for Budget, Technology, and Finance 
(ASBTF).
     Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
     Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
     Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ, the 
agency designated by the statute to carry out the research).
    If issues arise for which the expertise of other components of the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or other Federal 
departments would be helpful in prioritizing suggested research topics, 
representatives from those entities will be added to, or consulted by 
the Steering Committee as warranted.
    Steering Committee staff will prepare a preliminary ranking of 
suggested topics for study taking into consideration factors suggested 
by the terms of Section 1013(a)(2)(C): Health care items or services 
that impose high costs on Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP programs; those 
which may be underutilized or overutilized; and those which may 
significantly improve the prevention, treatment, or cure of diseases 
and conditions which impose high direct or indirect costs on patients 
or society.

Stakeholder Consultation

    The statute requires a broad, ongoing process of consultation with 
relevant stakeholders. Because two of the programs addressed by the 
statute are administered by the States, the Department will work with 
the States to develop an effective process for identifying their 
priority recommendations for research.
    To meet the requirement for ongoing consultation with other 
stakeholders, the Department will issue a specific solicitation for 
research recommendations every year and will permit stakeholders to 
submit research recommendations throughout the year.

    Dated: December 28, 2005.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 06-69 Filed 1-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M