AHRQâs EPC Program develops evidence reports and technology assessments on topics relevant to clinical and other health care organization and delivery issuesâspecifically those that are common, expensive, and/or significant for the Medicare and Medicaid populations. For example recent reviews have focused on clinical conditions, such as âTreatment of Nonmetastatic Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancerâ ; health delivery topics such as âManagement Strategies to Reduce Psychiatric Admissionsâ ; and specific technologies such as âImaging Techniques for Treatment Evaluation for Metastatic Breast Cancer.â These evidence reports include systematic reviews and technical briefs, and provide an essential foundation from which to understand what we know from existing research and what critical research gaps remain. These reports, reviews, and technology assessments are based on rigorous, comprehensive syntheses and analyses of the scientific literature on topics. EPC reports and assessments emphasize explicit and detailed documentation of methods, rationale, and assumptions. EPC reports are conducted in accordance with an established policy on financial and nonfinancial interests. These scientific syntheses may include meta-analyses and cost analyses.
The EPC Program supports AHRQâs mission by synthesizing and disseminating the available research as a âscience partnerâ with private and public organizations in their efforts to improve the quality, effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care. The EPC Program is a trusted source of rigorous, comprehensive, and unbiased evidence reviews for stakeholders. The resulting evidence reports and technology assessments are used by Federal and State agencies, private-sector professional societies, health delivery systems, providers, payers, and others committed to evidence-based health care. These end-users may use EPC Program evidence reports to inform policy decisions, clinical practice guidelines, and other healthcare decisions.
US Code:
42 USC Sec. 299
Name of Law: Healthcare and Research Quality Act of 1999
Each SEADS request is a new collection. The burden is lower as we expect fewer responses. The nature of systematic reviews is to secure comparable evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of numerous treatments for health related diseases and disorders. These reviews aim to inform healthcare decision making by clinicians and consumers, and inform guidance on clinical practice. The findings of these reviews are intended to help clinicians and consumers make the best decisions in their particular circumstances. In general, the goal for these reports is to be completed within a year. The steps that go into each review therefore are on a tight schedule and are not ongoing in order to fulfill their purpose. Thus, there are no ongoing collections of information from study sponsors and industry stakeholders for the same topic.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.