There is ample evidence that significant variation in healthcare delivery exists based on factors such as where a person lives and seeks care, local practice patterns, and lack of data and support for informed decision making, and there is great complexity in determining the appropriate course of treatment for individual patients. Congress authorized the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) in 2010 as an independent, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization to help patients and others make informed health decisions through comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER). It is vital for policy experts, stakeholders, and lawmakers to fully understand the scope of PCORI research along with how its findings are used by doctors and patients. Additionally, they should understand the potential impact that CER has on reducing practice variation and disparities as well as on influencing innovation and the healthcare economy. 

The Alliance for Health Policy, based in Washington, DC, is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping policy makers understand the underpinnings of health policy, the roots of the nation’s healthcare issues, and the trade-offs posed by various health policy proposals. The alliance is uniquely situated to convene and educate policy makers, stakeholders, and media as well as provide an unbiased, collaborative forum for a broader and deeper understanding of CER, PCORI's role, and efforts toward improving the quality and relevance of information available to patients to make better-informed health decisions. 

For over 25 years, the alliance has conducted hundreds of briefings and other educational events on Capitol Hill and around the nation on timely and critical topics. Through this project, the alliance will use a variety of venues and briefing formats to advance knowledge and understanding of CER and related issues, starting with an initial gathering of thought leaders to identify key issues; development of 101-level policy briefing and materials for congressional staff; a media briefing; and several public and congressional staff briefings. 

A successful outcome of this project would be a greater understanding of CER and related issues by healthcare policy makers, media, and other stakeholders.