Comparative Effectiveness Research to provide patients, clinicians and others with evidence–based information to make decisions about health care. 

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) 

http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/cefarra.htm

$1.1 billion: $300 million to build on existing collaborative and transparent Effective Health Care program which allows for input from all perspectives into the development of research and implementation of funds; $400 million each to NIH and HHS Secretary.

Unknown

Grants through State or directly to Municipality; directly to research facilities; HHS or other governmental agencies, as well as private sector entities.

A Coordinating Council has been appointed to guide investments. The council will provide input on priorities for spending the $400 million. There is a listening session scheduled for 4/14/09. Competitive funding opportunities will be announced directly by federal agency. NYSTAR website will provide additional information as it is made available.

HHS to contract with Institute for Medicine ($1.5 million cap) to report to Congress by 6/30/09 on national priorities, and consider its recommendations along with those of the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (established by ARRA) before making grants and contracts with entities with demonstrated experience and capacity to achieve the goals of comparative effectiveness research.

HHS, jointly with AHRQ and NIH, must submit to Congress an operating plan for FFY09 by 7/30/09, and for FFY10 by 11/1/09, specifying the allocation of resources. In addition, a report on actual obligations, expenditures and unobligated balances for each funded activity must be submitted to Congress by November 1, 2009 and every six months thereafter as long as funding is available for obligation or expenditure.

None

Wendy Saunders, Robert Reed and Ed J. Hamilton