Friends of AHRQ

1. Friends of AHRQ • Richard Kronick • Director • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality • November 20, 2013

2. To produce evidence to make health care safer; higher quality; more accessible, equitable, and affordable; and to work with HHS and other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used. AHRQ’s New Mission

3. Priority #1 • The ACA creates a national initiative to harness the potential of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR).  As part of this effort, AHRQ is charged with investing in developing PCOR methods, training PCOR researchers, and disseminating PCOR findings.  • In 2014, this work will remain a high priority and AHRQ will build on its ongoing efforts and invest in an ambitious initiative to disseminate and support the implementation of PCOR findings in primary care practices.  • The dual goals of this work will be to meaningfully improve health outcomes through the use of PCOR, with a focus on improving cardiovascular health aligned with the Department's Million Hearts initiative, and to improve the capacity of primary care practices to put PCOR evidence into practice.

4. Priority #2 • Make health care safer • The components of this priority are: • Prevent healthcare-associated infections • Accelerate patient safety improvement in hospitals • Reduce harm associated with obstetrical care • Support medical liability reform • Accelerate patient safety improvements in nursing homes

5. Priority #3 • Increase accessibility by evaluating Affordable Care Act coverage expansions • AHRQ, in collaboration with ASPE and CMS, will lead HHS efforts to evaluate the effects of the Medicaid and Marketplace coverage expansions. • The focus of this effort will be on developing the evidence that will be needed by the Secretary and the Congress to make better informed decisions about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

6. Priority #4 • Improve health care affordability, efficiency, and cost transparency • AHRQ will facilitate cost and price transparency by improving the data, measures, and public reporting strategies needed to convey information on health care price and cost along with quality. • AHRQ will also develop and spread evidence and tools to measure and enhance the efficiency of health systems – the capacity to produce better quality and outcomes while avoiding overutilization, or to maintain quality and outcomes with lower resource use.

7. FY 2014 Continuing Resolution Level Through January 15, 2014 • FY 2014 base of $465.0 M • Reallocations within portfolios, MEPS, and program support PHS Evaluation Fund $365.4 M PCORTF 99.7 M TOTAL $465.0 M

8. Funding Opportunity Announcements FY14 PCORTF Sponsored FY14 Appropriations Addressing Methodological Challenges in Research for Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions (R21) Rapid Secondary Analysis to Optimize Care for Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions (R01) Large Research Projects for Prevention and Management of Healthcare-Associated Infections (R01) Health Services Research Demonstration and Dissemination Projects for Prevention and Management of Healthcare-Associated Infections(R18) Understanding User Needs and Context to Inform Consumer Health Information Technology (IT) Design (R01) Understanding Clinical Information Needs and Health Care Decision Making Processes in the Context of Health Information Technology (R01) • Patient-Centered Outcomes Research for Treatment Options in Uterine Fibroids: Developing a Prospective Multi-Center Practice-based Clinical Registry (PCORI Funded - P50) • Researcher Training and Workforce Development in Methods and Standards for Conducting Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (R25) • AHRQ Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Mentored Research Scientist Development Awards (K01& K08) • AHRQ Mentored Career Enhancement Award in Patient Centered Outcomes Research for Mid-Career and Senior Investigators(K18) • Infrastructure Development Program in Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (R24)

9. Questions?