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[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 73 (Tuesday, April 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19203-19205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1813]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Nominations of Topics for Evidence-based Practice Centers

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION: Nomination of topics for evidence reports, technology 
assessments, and comparative and effectiveness reviews.

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SUMMARY: AHRQ invites nominations of topics for evidence reports, 
technology assessments, and comparative and effectiveness reviews 
conducted by its Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC) Program relating 
to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of common 
diseases and clinical conditions, as well as topics relating to the 
organization and financing of health care. Previous evidence reports 
and comparative effectiveness reviews can be found at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcix.htm and http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/progress.cfm, respectively.

DATES: Topic nominations for general evidence reports should be 
submitted by May 14, 2007, in order to be considered for fiscal year 
2007 selection. Topic nominations for comparative and effectiveness 
reviews are accepted on an on going basis at: http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/topicNomination/nominationsForm.cfm. In 
addition to timely responses to this request for nominations, AHRQ also 
accepts topic nominations on an ongoing basis for consideration for 
future years. Topics submitted for consideration as general evidence 
reports will concurrently be considered as comparative effectiveness 
reviews as appropriate. AHRQ will not reply to individual responses, 
but will consider all nominations during the selection process. Those 
who submit topics that are selected will be notified by AHRQ.

ADDRESSES: Topics nominations should be submitted to Beth A. Collins 
Sharp, Ph.D., R.N., Director, Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC) 
Program, Center for Outcomes and Evidence, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, 
Rockville, MD 20850. Electronic submissions to [email protected] are 
preferred.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth A. Collins Sharp, Ph.D., R.N., 
Center for Outcomes and Evidence, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 
20850; Phone: (301) 427-1503; Fax: (301) 427-1640; E-mail: 
[email protected].
    Arrangement for Public Inspection: All nominations will be 
available for public inspection by appointment at the Center for 
Outcomes and Evidence, telephone (301) 427-1600, weekdays between 8:30 
a.m. and 5 p.m. (Eastern time).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    Under Title IX of the Public Health Service Act, AHRQ is charged 
with enhancing the quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of 
health care services and access to such services. AHRQ accomplishes 
these goals through scientific research, including evaluative medical 
literature reviews and technology assessments, and through the 
promotion of improvements in clinical practice and health systems 
practices.

2. Purpose and Overview

    The purpose of this notice is to solicit topic nominations for 
evidence reports, technology assessments, and comparative and 
effectiveness reviews. Professional societies, health systems, 
employers, insurers, providers, and consumer groups are encouraged to 
nominate topics and then collaborate with AHRQ, as it carries out its 
mission to promote the practice of evidence-based health care. In this 
endeavor, AHRQ serves as a science partner with private-sector and 
public organizations in their efforts to improve the quality, 
effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care delivery in the 
United States, and to expedite the translation of evidence-based 
research findings into improved health care services. To undertake 
scientific analyses and evidence syntheses on topics of high priority 
to its public and private health care partners and the health care 
community generally, AHRQ awards task order contracts to its Evidence-
based Practice Centers (EPCs).
    The EPCs produce systematic reviews of the scientific literature--
evidence reports, technology assessments, and comparative and 
effectiveness reviews--that provide to public and private organizations 
the foundation for developing and implementing their own practice 
guidelines, performance

[[Page 19204]]

measures, educational programs, and other strategies to improve the 
quality of health care and decision-making related to the effectiveness 
and appropriateness of specific health care technologies and services. 
The evidence reports, technology assessments, and comparative and 
effectiveness reviews also may be used to inform coverage and 
reimbursement policies. As the body of scientific studies related to 
organization and financing of health care grows, systematic review and 
analysis of these studies, in addition to clinical and behavioral 
research, can provide health system organizations with a scientific 
foundation for developing or improving system-wide policies and 
practices.
    Currently, AHRQ supports approximately nine general evidence 
reports per year, in collaboration with non-federal partners, and 4-10 
comparative effectiveness reviews. Nominations of general topics from 
non-Federal partners are solicited annually through a notice in the 
Federal Register. However, topic nominations are accepted on an ongoing 
basis. All nominations received in the previous year as well as topics 
that were previously submitted but not selected are considered for the 
upcoming year.
    Reports and assessments usually require about 12 months for 
completion once assigned to an EPC. AHRQ widely disseminates the EPC 
evidence reports and technology assessments, both electronically and in 
print. The EPC evidence reports, technology assessments and comparative 
and effectiveness reviews do not make clinical recommendations or 
recommendations regarding reimbursement and coverage policies.

3. Role/Responsibilities of Partners for General Topics

    Nominators of topics selected for development of an EPC evidence 
report assume the role of Partners of AHRQ and the EPCs. Partners have 
defined roles and responsibilities. AHRQ places high value on these 
cooperative relationships, and takes into consideration a Partner 
organization's past performance of these responsibilities when 
considering whether to accept additional topics nominated by that 
organization in subsequent years. Specifically, Partners are expected 
to serve as resources to EPCs as they develop the evidence reports 
related to the nominated topic; serve as external peer reviewers of 
relevant draft evidence reports and assessments; and commit to timely 
translation of the EPC reports and assessments into their town quality 
improvement tolls (e.g., clinical practice guidelines, performance 
measures), educational programs, or reimbursement policies; and 
dissemination of these derivative products to their membership or other 
health care stakeholders, as appropriate. AHRQ also is interested in 
all the uses of these derivative products and the products' impact on 
enhanced health care. AHRQ looks to its Partners to provide use and 
impact data on products that are based on EPC evidence reports and 
technology assessments.

4. Topics for Reports

    The EPCs prepare evidence reports, technology assessments, and 
comparative and effectiveness reviews on topics for which there is 
significant demand for information by health care providers, insurers, 
purchasers, health-related societies, and patient advocacy 
organizations. Such topics may include the prevention, diagnosis and/or 
treatment of particular clinical and behavioral conditions, use of 
alternative or complementary therapies, and appropriate use of commonly 
provided services, procedures, or technologies. Topics also may include 
issues related to the organization and financing of care such as risk 
adjustment methodologies, market performance measures, provider payment 
mechanisms, and insurance purchasing tools, as well as measurement or 
evaluation of provider integration of new scientific findings regarding 
health care and delivery innovations. Previous reports and reviews can 
be found at http://www.ahrg.gov/clinic/epcix.htm and http://effectivehealthcare.ahrg.gov/products/progress.cfm.
    AHRQ is very interested in receiving topic nominations from 
professional societies and organizations composed of members of 
minority populations, as well as topic nominations that have 
significant impact on AHRQ priority populations including low income 
groups, minority groups, women, children, the elderly, and individuals 
with special health care needs, such as those with disabilities, those 
who need chronic care or end-of-life healthcare, or those who live in 
inner-city and rural areas.

5. Topic Nomination

    Nominations of topics for AHRQ evidence reports, technology 
assessments, and comparative effectiveness reviews should focus on 
specific aspects of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and/or management 
of a particular condition; an individual procedure, treatment, or 
technology; or a specific healthcare organizational or financial 
strategy. The processes that AHRQ employs to select clinical and 
behavioral topics as well as organization and financing topics 
nominated by the EPCs are described below. For each topic, the 
nominating organization must provide the following information:
    A. Rationale and supporting evidence on the relevance and 
importance of the topic;
    B. Three to five focused questions on the topic to be addressed;
    C. Plans for rapid translation of the evidence reports and 
technology assessments into clinical guidelines, performance measures, 
educational programs, or other strategies for strengthening the quality 
of health care services, or plans to inform development of 
reimbursement or coverage policies;
    D. Plans for use and/or dissemination of these derivative products, 
e.g., to membership and others, if appropriate; and,
    E. Process by which the nominating organization will measure the 
use of these products and impact of such use.

6. Topic Selection

    Factors that will be considered in the selection of topics for AHRQ 
evidence reports, technology assessments, and comparative and 
effectiveness reviews and which should/may be addressed in nomination 
material, include:
    A. Burden of related disease(s) including severity, incidence and/
or prevalence or relevance of the organizational/financial topic to the 
general population and/or AHRQ's or the Secretary's priorities which 
are available at http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov;
    B. Total costs associated with a condition, procedure, treatment, 
technology, or organization/financial topic taking into account the 
number of people needing such care, the unit cost of care, and related 
or indirect costs;
    C. Relevance to the needs of the Medicare, Medicaid and other 
Federal healthcare programs;
    D. Controversy or uncertainty about the topic and availability of 
scientific data to support the systematic review and analysis of the 
topic;
    E. Potential for reducing clinically significant variations in the 
prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or management of a disease or 
condition; or in changing the use of a procedure or technology; 
informing and improving patient and/or provider decisionmaking; 
improving health outcomes; and/or reducing costs; and,
    F. Nominating organization's plan to disseminate derivative 
products, measure use and impact of these products on outcomes, or 
otherwise

[[Page 19205]]

incorporate the report into its managerial or policy decision making.

7. Submission of Nominations

    Topics nominations for general topics should be submitted to Beth 
A. Collins Sharp, PhD, R.N., Director, Evidence-based Practice Centers 
(EPC) Program, Center for Outcomes and Evidence, AHRQ, 540 Gaither 
Road, Rockville, MD 20850. Electronic submissions to [email protected] are 
preferred. Topic nominations for comparative effectiveness reviews 
should be submitted to http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov.

    Dated: April 5, 2007.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 07-1813 Filed 4-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M
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