Comparative Effectiveness — Thinking beyond Medication A versus Medication B

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the stimulus package signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009, directs 1. 1 billion to support “the development and dissemination of research assessing the comparative effectiveness of health care treatments and strategies, including through efforts that. . . conduct, support, or synthesize research that compares the clinical outcomes, effectiveness, and appropriateness of items, services, and procedures that are used to prevent, diagnose, or treat diseases, disorders, and other health conditions. ”The rationale for seeking better information on comparative effectiveness is well understood. Many existing devices and therapeutic approaches have. . .