CER - HHS RFI: Opportunity for Public Comment, Due August 9 

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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a request for public information (RFI)—Request for Information on Development of an Inventory of Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) —to assist in the creation of a searchable online database that will provide feedback on the comparative effectiveness of different diagnostic, therapeutic and medical procedures.

The new database will provide up-to-date information regarding which therapies and interventions are most effective. Development of the database, supported by ARRA funds, aims to assist researchers, medical providers, patients, consumers, and decision makers to identify relevant CER in a timely, user-friendly manner.

Because NIH is interested in the collection, composition and dissemination of CER, we would like to alert your organization and its key constituents to this opportunity for public comment. The full text of the RFI (Docket ID: HHS-OS-2010-0017) and the mechanism to submit comments is available at www.Regulations.gov. Additional information is also available through the HHS website. 

Submitted comments could helpfully suggest which sources of medical literature should be used, how best to attract the contribution of studies, how to best categorize content, which features might prove most useful, and how to ensure sustainability of the inventory over time. Please do not include comments regarding the methodology for doing CER or suggestions for inclusion of specific CER studies.

All comments must be received no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time on August 9, 2010.

Please feel free to disseminate this information to your colleagues. You may contact Dr. Kate Goodrich, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and Human Services, with any questions. Dr. Goodrich can be reached at (202) 690-7213.