HHS solicits input on priorities for research under Medicare Modernization Act

HHS solicits input on priorities for research under Medicare Modernization Act

HHS is soliciting input on research priorities under Medicare reform legislation signed by President Bush in December. Section 1013 of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 authorizes HHS to support research that provides information on the outcomes, comparative clinical effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care items and services, including prescription drugs, and outlines strategies for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP programs, including how their services are organized, managed, and delivered.

The new law requires the initial priority list for research to be developed by June 2004 and initial research to be completed in December 2005. Written suggestions for the priority list can be submitted online by May 7 at Web site (www.medicare.gov/MedicareReform/researchtopics.asp) where the exact language of Section 1013 of the statute also can be found. In addition, a town hall meeting to solicit additional input from stakeholders is tentatively scheduled for mid- to late May in Washington, DC.