42 U.S.C. § 299b — Health care outcome improvement re-

Page 1120 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 299b PART B—HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT RESEARCH § 299b. Health care outcome improvement re- search (a) Evidence rating systems In collaboration with experts from the public and private sector, the Agency shall identify and disseminate methods or systems to assess health care research results, particularly meth- ods or systems to rate the strength of the sci- entific evidence underlying health care practice, recommendations in the research literature, and technology assessments. The Agency shall make methods or systems for evidence rating widely available. Agency publications containing health care recommendations shall indicate the level of substantiating evidence using such methods or systems. (b) Health care improvement research centers and provider-based research networks (1) In general In order to address the full continuum of care and outcomes research, to link research to practice improvement, and to speed the dis- semination of research findings to community practice settings, the Agency shall employ re- search strategies and mechanisms that will link research directly with clinical practice in geographically diverse locations throughout the United States, including— (A) health care improvement research cen- ters that combine demonstrated multidisci- plinary expertise in outcomes or quality im- provement research with linkages to rel- evant sites of care; (B) provider-based research networks, in- cluding plan, facility, or delivery system sites of care (especially primary care), that can evaluate outcomes and evaluate and pro- mote quality improvement; and (C) other innovative mechanisms or strate- gies to link research with clinical practice. (2) Requirements The Director is authorized to establish the requirements for entities applying for grants under this subsection. (July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 911, as added Pub. L. 106–129, § 2(a), Dec. 6, 1999, 113 Stat. 1656.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 299b, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 911, as added Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, § 6103(a), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2192; amended Pub. L. 102–410, § 5(b), Oct. 13, 1992, 106 Stat. 2097, related to establishment of Of- fice of the Forum for Quality and Effectiveness in Health Care, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 106–129. Another prior section 299b, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 902, as added Oct. 6, 1965, Pub. L. 89–239, § 2, 79 Stat. 927; amended Oct. 15, 1968, Pub. L. 90–574, title I, § 103, 82 Stat. 1005; Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–515, title I, §§ 104, 111(b), 84 Stat. 1299, 1301, defined terms for pur- poses of this subchapter, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–117, § 12(d), Oct. 7, 1985, 99 Stat. 495. § 299b–1. Private-public partnerships to improve organization and delivery (a) Support for efforts to develop information on quality (1) Scientific and technical support In its role as the principal agency for health care research and quality, the Agency may provide scientific and technical support for private and public efforts to improve health care quality, including the activities of ac- crediting organizations. (2) Role of the Agency With respect to paragraph (1), the role of the Agency shall include— (A) the identification and assessment of methods for the evaluation of the health of— (i) enrollees in health plans by type of plan, provider, and provider arrangements; and (ii) other populations, including those receiving long-term care services; (B) the ongoing development, testing, and dissemination of quality measures, including measures of health and functional outcomes; (C) the compilation and dissemination of health care quality measures developed in the private and public sector; (D) assistance in the development of im- proved health care information systems; (E) the development of survey tools for the purpose of measuring participant and bene- ficiary assessments of their health care; and (F) identifying and disseminating informa- tion on mechanisms for the integration of information on quality into purchaser and consumer decision-making processes. (b) Centers for education and research on thera- peutics (1) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director and in consultation with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall establish a program for the purpose of making one or more grants for the establishment and operation of one or more centers to carry out the activities speci- fied in paragraph (2). (2) Required activities The activities referred to in this paragraph are the following: (A) The conduct of state-of-the-art re- search for the following purposes: (i) To increase awareness of— (I) new uses of drugs, biological prod- ucts, and devices; (II) ways to improve the effective use of drugs, biological products, and de- vices; and (III) risks of new uses and risks of com- binations of drugs and biological prod- ucts. (ii) To provide objective clinical infor- mation to the following individuals and entities: (I) Health care practitioners and other providers of health care goods or serv- ices. (II) Pharmacists, pharmacy benefit managers and purchasers.