Comparative Effectiveness Research and Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions

Description:
The aim of comparative effectiveness research (CER) is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of health care and to help patients, health care professionals, and purchasers make informed decisions.

How to cite:

Tinetti ME, Studenski SA. Comparative Effectiveness Research and Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions. NEJM. 2011. Available at: http://healthpolicyandreform.nejm.org/?p=14794&query=home

CER is moving forward, with recently defined priorities and a newly funded Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, which we hope will survive congressional cost cutting. To achieve its goals, CER must address the population that consumes the most health care: patients with multiple chronic conditions, especially those with combinations of behavioral and physical conditions such as dementia, mental illness, end-stage renal disease, and heart failure. Such patients account for more than 80% of Medicare costs and are overrepresented in Medicaid and private insurance plans. Ironically, this is also the least studied population.CER provides an opportunity to correct this disparity, but doing so will not be easy.

Owner: