Outcomes and effectiveness research in the private sector

Private-sector health care organizations increasingly tout the use of outcomes and effectiveness research in activities ranging from pharmaceutical research to insurance coverage determinations. The rapid development of this research raises important questions about the role of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) as the producer, funder, and champion of outcomes and effectiveness research. To address this issue, we reviewed the activities of pharmaceutical companies, insurers, managed care organizations, health information technology companies, and other private-sector actors in outcomes and effectiveness research. We found that it is being used in a focused way to promote business goals and other organizational objectives, particularly in the pharmaceutical, insurance, and managed care industries. We also found significant gaps in its application to important public health Issues and virtually no overlap with prior federal activities in this area.