The Section 802 of the Stimulus is worth a read because it may very well change the way Medicine is practiced in the United States. Here it is in detail:"SEC. 802. FEDERAL COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR COMPARATIVE CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established a Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Council’’).
(b) PURPOSE; DUTIES.—The Council shall—
(1) assist the offices and agencies of the Federal Government, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and Defense, and other Federal departments or agencies, to coordinate the conduct or support of comparative clinical effectiveness and related health services research; and
(2) advise the President and Congress on— (A) strategies with respect to the infrastructure needs of comparative clinical effectiveness research within the Federal Government; (B) appropriate organizational expenditures for comparative clinical effectiveness research by relevant Federal departments and agencies; and (C) opportunities to assure optimum coordination of comparative clinical effectiveness and related health services research conducted or supported by relevant Federal departments and agencies, with the goal of reducing duplicative efforts and encouraging coordinated and complementary use of resources.
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— (1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Council shall be composed of not more than 15 members, all of whom are senior Federal officers or employees with responsibility for health related programs, appointed by the President, acting through the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’). Members shall first be appointed to the Council not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) MEMBERS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The members of the Council shall include one senior officer or employee from each of the following agencies: (i) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (ii) The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (iii) The National Institutes of Health. (iv) The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. (v) The Food and Drug Administration. (vi) The Veterans Health Administration within the Department of Veterans Affairs. (vii) The office within the Department of Defense responsible for management of the Department of Defense Military Health Care System. (B) QUALIFICATIONS.—At least half of the members of the Council shall be physicians or other experts with clinical expertise. (3) CHAIRMAN; VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Secretary shall serve as Chairman of the Council and shall designate a member to serve as Vice Chairman.
(d) REPORTS.— (1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than June 30, 2009, the Council shall submit to the President and the Congress a report containing information describing Federal activities on comparative clinical effectiveness research and recommendations for additional investments in such research conducted or supported from funds made available for allotment by the Secretary for comparative clinical effectiveness research in this Act. (2) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Council shall submit to the President and Congress an annual report regarding its activities and recommendations concerning the infrastructure needs, appropriate organizational expenditures and opportunities for better co ordination of comparative clinical effectiveness research by relevant Federal departments and agencies.
(e) STAFFING; SUPPORT.—From funds made available for allotment by the Secretary for comparative clinical effectiveness research in this Act, the Secretary shall make available not more than 1 percent to the Council for staff and administrative support."
This creates two new Offices and expands one:
(1) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
(2) The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
(3) The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
These offices will create policies and procedures to select the most effective health care treatments to be mandated by the Federal Government. This is a very powerful creation and may very well change the way we see health care being delivered in the future. This is the first big step, it is the camel's nose in the tent.
Posts
