107th Congress

Health Services Research Study

S. 3084

Background

In introducing S. 3084, Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) stated in the Congressional Record that "...health services research is the primary source of information for policymakers, payers, managers, providers and the public concerning the organization, financing and performance of the American health care system. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the lead Federal agency in this effort. However, many other Federal partners, most institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense, fund and use health services research extensively to advance their mission. The American health care system is facing significant problems with rapidly rising costs, a staggering number of uninsured, racial and ethic disparities, and a compelling need for safer, higher quality care. In the post-September 11 environment, we add the need to ensure adequate public health systems and emergency response capacity in hospitals. In this challenging environment, I am increasingly concerned that the information needed from research to address current and future problems in the American health care system may not be available when needed. Therefore, I am introducing legislation today that requests AHRQ to contract with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) for a report on the adequacy of the organization and financing of the field of health services research for meeting the Nation's future information needs. The report should focus on the Federal role in supporting health services research, and in particular, the role of AHRQ in leading the Federal effort and coordinating the complementary roles of other Federal agencies, as well as the private foundations and corporations, that conduct and fund health services research."

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

S. 3084 would have required that the Director of AHRQ enter into a contract with the IOM of the National Academy of Sciences for the conduct of a study on the adequacy of the organization and financing in the field of health services research for meeting the future information needs of the United States.

In conducting the study, IOM was to consider the Federal role in supporting health services research and, in particular, the role of AHRQ in leading the Federal effort and coordinating the complementary roles of other Federal agencies, as well as the private foundations and corporations that conduct and fund health services research.

In addition, the bill would have required AHRQ to submit a timely report to Congress on the findings of the IOM study.