PIPC Supports New Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Bill

Rep. Schrader, New Democrats advance patient-centered CER

WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Joining Congressman Kurt
Schrader (OR-5) and other Members of the New Democrat Coalition, Tony Coelho,
chairman of the Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC), spoke with
reporters and announced PIPC's support for the Comparative Effectiveness
Research Act of 2009.

"This bill represents an important step forward for patients and caregivers,
and I look forward to supporting Congressman Schrader and the other cosponsors
to advance patient-centered CER," Mr. Coelho said. "As Congress works to
reform our current healthcare system, I am encouraged that leaders in this
debate are advancing legislation that focuses on the most important aspect of
healthcare - the patient."

"Learning what works in healthcare is an essential element of healthcare
reform," said Rep. Schrader. "The Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of
2009 will help make sure patients and doctors have the right information at
the right time to make the best health care decisions. This will lead to
better quality and better value in health care."

Along with Representative Schrader and Mr. Coelho in announcing the new
legislation were Congressman Ron Kind (WI-3) and Congresswoman Allyson
Schwartz (PA-13).

Mr. Coelho noted that the Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2009 was
modeled on similar legislation introduced last year by Senators Kent Conrad
(D-ND) and Max Baucus (D-MT), which includes many important elements of CER
policy that is focused on patient care and quality improvement. The
Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2009 creates a private, independent
Institute to support comparative clinical effectiveness research, and includes
provisions to focus the Institute on communicating results to patients and
providers, ensure openness and transparency, and define a research agenda
centered on patient and provider information needs.

About PIPC
The Partnership to Improve Patient Care was formed in November 2008 to support
new comparative effectiveness research proposals that are centered on patient
and provider needs; raise awareness about the value of well-designed CER; and
promote the important role of continued medical innovation as part of the
solution to cost and quality challenges in health care. Partnership members
include a wide range of healthcare organizations representing patient,
provider and industry advocacy groups.

SOURCE Partnership to Improve Patient Care

Partnership to Improve Patient Care, +1-202-715-7862,
media@improvepatientcare.org