In This Week’s Issue:
1. PCORI Funding Announcement: Implementation of Effective Shared Decision Making Approaches in Practice Settings -- Cycle 2 2018, click here to apply.
2. PCORI Peer Review Opportunity, click here to apply.
3. Kaiser Health News: A Hospital’s Human Touch: Why Taking Care In Discharging A Patient Matters, click here to read the article.
4. IFPA: Patients Shouldn’t Have to ‘Fail First,’ click here to watch the video.
5. Patient EngagementHIT: What Are the Top Patient Engagement Measures in Value-Based Care? Click here to read the article.
6. CMS Webinar: Technical Expert Panels: Developing and Implementing a TEP for Better Quality Measures, Click here to register.
7. The PCORI Blog: The Latest Published Results of PCORI-Funded Studies, click here to read the blog.
8. Study: Specialty Drug Coverage Varies Across Commercial Health Plans In The US, click here to read the study.
9. Upcoming Events and Webinars, see details below.
10. Medical Journal Articles, see details below
11. AHRQ Effective Program Updates, see details below
1. PCORI Funding Announcement: Implementation of Effective Shared Decision Making Approaches in Practice Settings -- Cycle 2 2018, click here to apply.
2. PCORI Peer Review Opportunity, click here to apply.
3. Kaiser Health News: A Hospital’s Human Touch: Why Taking Care In Discharging A Patient Matters, click here to read the article.
4. IFPA: Patients Shouldn’t Have to ‘Fail First,’ click here to watch the video.
5. Patient EngagementHIT: What Are the Top Patient Engagement Measures in Value-Based Care? Click here to read the article.
6. CMS Webinar: Technical Expert Panels: Developing and Implementing a TEP for Better Quality Measures, Click here to register.
7. The PCORI Blog: The Latest Published Results of PCORI-Funded Studies, click here to read the blog.
8. Study: Specialty Drug Coverage Varies Across Commercial Health Plans In The US, click here to read the study.
9. Upcoming Events and Webinars, see details below.
10. Medical Journal Articles, see details below
11. AHRQ Effective Program Updates, see details below
1. PCORI Funding Announcement: Implementation of Effective Shared Decision Making Approaches in Practice Settings -- Cycle 2 2018
PCORI is seeking letters of intent (LOI) by July 24 in response to a PCORI Funding Announcement promoting the targeted implementation and systematic uptake of effective shared decision making approaches in healthcare settings. “For this PFA, PCORI defines an SDM strategy as an intervention or approach that draws on and presents evidence to inform patients of available treatment options and their risks and benefits, and either engages patients in a decision-making process with their clinician or promotes their ability to engage in such a process. This initiative supports projects that propose active, multi-component approaches to implementing effective SDM strategies that address existing barriers and obstacles to uptake and maintenance of shared decision making. The SDM strategy must have demonstrated effectiveness on patient, caregiver, or healthcare provider decision making using widely-accepted metrics; the corresponding implementation approach must have potential for use and scalability beyond the targeted implementation setting. Patients and others whose involvement is central to success of the proposed project should be involved in its design and execution.” Click here to apply.
2. PCORI Peer Review Opportunity
PCORI is seeking patients and stakeholders to review for upcoming PCORI-funded research studies that have reached completion. Of particular need are reviewers who have had, or have considered, bariatric surgery, as well as those who identify as African American and/or Latino who are living with asthma or serve as a caretaker for an older adult with asthma are of a particular need. The goal of peer review is to ensure that the primary research studies funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) are held to the highest standards of scientific integrity, methodological rigor, and usefulness to patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare stakeholders. If you’re interested or know someone who is interested in participating in this capacity, please contact Kira Lesley with Editorial Office for PCORI Peer Review at [email protected]. Click here for additional details.
3. Kaiser Health News: A Hospital’s Human Touch: Why Taking Care In Discharging A Patient Matters
In an article for Kaiser Health News, Judith Graham emphasizes that there must be a trust built between patients and caregivers when it comes to hospitalizations. “Two other priorities are also crucially important, according to recently published research: Patients and caregivers want to feel prepared to look after themselves or loved ones when they leave the hospital, and they want to know that their needs will be attended to until they stabilize or recover, however long that takes. What’s striking is how often hospitals fail to fulfill these expectations, even though it’s been known for decades that care transitions are problematic and strategies to reduce preventable hospital readmissions have been widely adopted. ‘Despite millions of dollars of investment and thousands of hours of effort, the health care system still feels very hazardous, unsafe and stressful from the perspective of patients and caregivers,’ said Dr. Suzanne Mitchell, assistant professor of family medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and lead author of the new report.” Click here to read the article.
4. IFPA: Patients Shouldn’t Have to ‘Fail First’
Dr. Michael Blaiss criticizes the ‘”fail first” practice by insurance companies in a blog post for the Institute for Patient Access. “The tactic is a cost-saving measure for health plans, but it can be detrimental to patients. And in many states, there is no clear appeals process for those who want to challenge the ‘fail first’ requirement. Meanwhile, patients’ conditions can worsen and their health can deteriorate as they try and fail on medications that don’t work for them. This often leads to additional office visits and may lead to emergency care or hospitalization for certain chronic conditions. There is good news, though. Some state lawmakers are advancing policies that change how health plans can administer step therapy. More and more states have enacted laws to establish the sequence of events considered medically appropriate to exempt a patient from failing first on a prescription medication protocol, based on clinical review. This provision is critical, because step therapy programs imposed by health care plans result in as many as one in five patients not receiving treatment at all. Long delays or lack of treatment can worsen health outcomes. Click here to watch the video.
5. Patient EngagementHIT: What Are the Top Patient Engagement Measures in Value-Based Care?
In an article for Patient EngagementHIT, Sara Health writes that utilizing patient engagement measures makes patient-centered initiatives more actionable. “Patient satisfaction has emerged as one of the most important indicators of a positive healthcare experience. As patients begin to assume greater financial responsibility for their own healthcare, patient satisfaction becomes essential. If a patient has a negative interaction with a certain facility, they can choose to bring their dollars elsewhere. The CAHPS – Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Processes and Services – surveys are industry standard for looking at patient satisfaction and experience. These surveys assess patient-provider communication, patient education, the discharge process, and elements of the hospital environment. CAHPS surveys are tied to certain aspects of value-based reimbursement and many organizations value the insights they glean.” Click here to read the article.
6. CMS Webinar: Technical Expert Panels: Developing and Implementing a TEP for Better Quality Measures
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid is hosting a webinar on July 25 that will overview development and implementation of better quality measures. “Throughout the course of the webinar series, we have presented various methods for stakeholders of measure development to be included in the various phases of development. This session will take a closer look at one of the more complex methods of getting feedback: how to convene and facilitate a successful TEP to improve the quality of a measure. Presenters Jennifer Brustrom and Brenna Rabel, of Battelle, will share their experiences in implementing a TEP, including how to recruit participants, tips for purposeful facilitation, how to utilize the feedback, and lessons learned.” Click here to register.
7. The PCORI Blog: The Latest Published Results of PCORI-Funded Studies
In a post for The PCORI Blog, PCORI Executive Director Dr. Joe Selby discusses recently published results of PCORI-funded studies. “...These publications are among more than 60 that have appeared in leading medical journals summarizing the primary comparative effectiveness research results of the studies we've funded. Summaries from 78 completed projects, meanwhile, are now available on our website in versions for professionals and the general public, the latter in both English and Spanish. Needless to say, we're excited about this record of achievement and look forward to even more important results becoming available in the coming months as we work to help patients and those who care for them make better-informed healthcare decisions.” Click here to read the blog.
8. Study: Specialty Drug Coverage Varies Across Commercial Health Plans In The US
A new study published in the July issue of Health Affairs shows that insurance coverage and reimbursement for specialty medications varies substantially. “The study has implications for both patients and providers. ‘Variation in coverage may substantially influence patient access to specialty medicines,’ explains Jennifer Graff, PharmD, Vice President of Comparative Effectiveness Research at the National Pharmaceutical Council and one of the study authors. ‘For patients switching between insurers or employers, differences in plans' coverage decisions may result in care disruptions. It also requires that physicians tailor care not only to diverse patients, but also to the multiple insurance plans that provide health care coverage.’ The study also found that although 52 percent of coverage decisions were consistent with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-labeled indication, restrictions were common. The most common restriction types were step edits, when a prior treatment must be proven ineffective before the plan will cover the treatment (73 percent); limitations on the types of physicians who could prescribe the medication (31 percent); and restrictions to certain patient subgroups (16 percent). There were multiple coverage restrictions in 22.5 percent of decisions.” Click here to read the study.
9. Upcoming Events and Webinars
Implementation of Effective Shared Decision Making Approaches in Practice Settings (Cycle 2 2018 PFA) Applicant Town Hall
July 11, 2018
Click here for details.
NPC @ MedCity CONVERGE
July 11-12, 2018
Click here for details.
Examining the Impact of Real-World Evidence on Medical Development: Application
July 17, 2018
Click here for details.
eyeforpharma Value Summit 2018
November 7-8, 2018
Click here for details.
10. Medical Journal Articles
Inverting the Patient Involvement Paradigm: Defining Patient Led Research, click here to view.
Stakeholder-Driven, Consensus Development Methods to Design an Ethical Framework and Guidelines for Engaged Research, clickhere to view.
The Effect of Medical Technology Innovations on Patient Outcomes, 1990-2015: Results of a Physician Survey, click here to view.
The Impact of Individual Patient Data in a Network MetaAnalysis: An Investigation into Parameter Estimation and Model Selection, click here to view.
Patient Similarity for Precision Medicine: A Systematic Review, click here to view.
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement in Health Services Research, click here to view.
Care Transitions From Patient and Caregiver Perspectives, click here to view.
Incorporating Quantitative Patient Preference Data into Healthcare Decision Making Processes: Is HTA Falling Behind? Click here to view.
A Framework for Identifying Treatment-Covariate Interactions in Individual Participant Data Network Meta-Analysis, click here to view.
Nursing Research, CER, PICO and PCORI, click here to view.
Comment & Response: Measures of the Burden of Medical Expenses, click here to view.
A New Framework for Patient Engagement in Cancer Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Studies, click here to view.
Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs): Identifying Challenges and Solutions to Support Engagement in Research, click here to view.
Missing Data in Trial-Based Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: An Incomplete Journey, click here to view.
11. AHRQ Effective Program Updates
Collaboration Is Key to Accelerating Diagnostics Access to Optimize Benefits of Precision Medicines, click here to view.
Registries for Evaluating Patient Outcomes: A User’s Guide Call for Case Examples, click here to view.
Telehealth for Acute and Chronic Care Consultations, click here to view.
Library of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Resources, click here to view.
Mobile Health Applications for Self-Management of Diabetes, click here to view.
Role of Immunotherapy in the Treatment of Asthma, click here to view.
Library of Common Data Definitions: Atrial Fibrillation, click here to view.
Library of Common Data Definitions: Asthma, click here to view.
Patient or Participant Generated Registries, click here to view.
Effects of Dietary Sodium and Potassium Intake on Chronic Disease Outcomes and Related Risk Factors, click here to view.
Prioritization and Selection of Harms for Inclusion in Systematic Reviews, click here to view.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Diagnosis and Treatment in Children and Adolescents, click here to view.
A Framework for Conceptualizing Evidence Needs of Health Systems, click here to view.
Nonsurgical Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Adult Women: A Systematic Review Update, click here to view.
Drug Therapy for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review Update, click here to view.
Effects of Dietary Sodium and Potassium Intake on Chronic Disease Outcomes and Related Risk Factors, click here to view.
PCORI is seeking letters of intent (LOI) by July 24 in response to a PCORI Funding Announcement promoting the targeted implementation and systematic uptake of effective shared decision making approaches in healthcare settings. “For this PFA, PCORI defines an SDM strategy as an intervention or approach that draws on and presents evidence to inform patients of available treatment options and their risks and benefits, and either engages patients in a decision-making process with their clinician or promotes their ability to engage in such a process. This initiative supports projects that propose active, multi-component approaches to implementing effective SDM strategies that address existing barriers and obstacles to uptake and maintenance of shared decision making. The SDM strategy must have demonstrated effectiveness on patient, caregiver, or healthcare provider decision making using widely-accepted metrics; the corresponding implementation approach must have potential for use and scalability beyond the targeted implementation setting. Patients and others whose involvement is central to success of the proposed project should be involved in its design and execution.” Click here to apply.
2. PCORI Peer Review Opportunity
PCORI is seeking patients and stakeholders to review for upcoming PCORI-funded research studies that have reached completion. Of particular need are reviewers who have had, or have considered, bariatric surgery, as well as those who identify as African American and/or Latino who are living with asthma or serve as a caretaker for an older adult with asthma are of a particular need. The goal of peer review is to ensure that the primary research studies funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) are held to the highest standards of scientific integrity, methodological rigor, and usefulness to patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare stakeholders. If you’re interested or know someone who is interested in participating in this capacity, please contact Kira Lesley with Editorial Office for PCORI Peer Review at [email protected]. Click here for additional details.
3. Kaiser Health News: A Hospital’s Human Touch: Why Taking Care In Discharging A Patient Matters
In an article for Kaiser Health News, Judith Graham emphasizes that there must be a trust built between patients and caregivers when it comes to hospitalizations. “Two other priorities are also crucially important, according to recently published research: Patients and caregivers want to feel prepared to look after themselves or loved ones when they leave the hospital, and they want to know that their needs will be attended to until they stabilize or recover, however long that takes. What’s striking is how often hospitals fail to fulfill these expectations, even though it’s been known for decades that care transitions are problematic and strategies to reduce preventable hospital readmissions have been widely adopted. ‘Despite millions of dollars of investment and thousands of hours of effort, the health care system still feels very hazardous, unsafe and stressful from the perspective of patients and caregivers,’ said Dr. Suzanne Mitchell, assistant professor of family medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and lead author of the new report.” Click here to read the article.
4. IFPA: Patients Shouldn’t Have to ‘Fail First’
Dr. Michael Blaiss criticizes the ‘”fail first” practice by insurance companies in a blog post for the Institute for Patient Access. “The tactic is a cost-saving measure for health plans, but it can be detrimental to patients. And in many states, there is no clear appeals process for those who want to challenge the ‘fail first’ requirement. Meanwhile, patients’ conditions can worsen and their health can deteriorate as they try and fail on medications that don’t work for them. This often leads to additional office visits and may lead to emergency care or hospitalization for certain chronic conditions. There is good news, though. Some state lawmakers are advancing policies that change how health plans can administer step therapy. More and more states have enacted laws to establish the sequence of events considered medically appropriate to exempt a patient from failing first on a prescription medication protocol, based on clinical review. This provision is critical, because step therapy programs imposed by health care plans result in as many as one in five patients not receiving treatment at all. Long delays or lack of treatment can worsen health outcomes. Click here to watch the video.
5. Patient EngagementHIT: What Are the Top Patient Engagement Measures in Value-Based Care?
In an article for Patient EngagementHIT, Sara Health writes that utilizing patient engagement measures makes patient-centered initiatives more actionable. “Patient satisfaction has emerged as one of the most important indicators of a positive healthcare experience. As patients begin to assume greater financial responsibility for their own healthcare, patient satisfaction becomes essential. If a patient has a negative interaction with a certain facility, they can choose to bring their dollars elsewhere. The CAHPS – Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Processes and Services – surveys are industry standard for looking at patient satisfaction and experience. These surveys assess patient-provider communication, patient education, the discharge process, and elements of the hospital environment. CAHPS surveys are tied to certain aspects of value-based reimbursement and many organizations value the insights they glean.” Click here to read the article.
6. CMS Webinar: Technical Expert Panels: Developing and Implementing a TEP for Better Quality Measures
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid is hosting a webinar on July 25 that will overview development and implementation of better quality measures. “Throughout the course of the webinar series, we have presented various methods for stakeholders of measure development to be included in the various phases of development. This session will take a closer look at one of the more complex methods of getting feedback: how to convene and facilitate a successful TEP to improve the quality of a measure. Presenters Jennifer Brustrom and Brenna Rabel, of Battelle, will share their experiences in implementing a TEP, including how to recruit participants, tips for purposeful facilitation, how to utilize the feedback, and lessons learned.” Click here to register.
7. The PCORI Blog: The Latest Published Results of PCORI-Funded Studies
In a post for The PCORI Blog, PCORI Executive Director Dr. Joe Selby discusses recently published results of PCORI-funded studies. “...These publications are among more than 60 that have appeared in leading medical journals summarizing the primary comparative effectiveness research results of the studies we've funded. Summaries from 78 completed projects, meanwhile, are now available on our website in versions for professionals and the general public, the latter in both English and Spanish. Needless to say, we're excited about this record of achievement and look forward to even more important results becoming available in the coming months as we work to help patients and those who care for them make better-informed healthcare decisions.” Click here to read the blog.
8. Study: Specialty Drug Coverage Varies Across Commercial Health Plans In The US
A new study published in the July issue of Health Affairs shows that insurance coverage and reimbursement for specialty medications varies substantially. “The study has implications for both patients and providers. ‘Variation in coverage may substantially influence patient access to specialty medicines,’ explains Jennifer Graff, PharmD, Vice President of Comparative Effectiveness Research at the National Pharmaceutical Council and one of the study authors. ‘For patients switching between insurers or employers, differences in plans' coverage decisions may result in care disruptions. It also requires that physicians tailor care not only to diverse patients, but also to the multiple insurance plans that provide health care coverage.’ The study also found that although 52 percent of coverage decisions were consistent with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-labeled indication, restrictions were common. The most common restriction types were step edits, when a prior treatment must be proven ineffective before the plan will cover the treatment (73 percent); limitations on the types of physicians who could prescribe the medication (31 percent); and restrictions to certain patient subgroups (16 percent). There were multiple coverage restrictions in 22.5 percent of decisions.” Click here to read the study.
9. Upcoming Events and Webinars
Implementation of Effective Shared Decision Making Approaches in Practice Settings (Cycle 2 2018 PFA) Applicant Town Hall
July 11, 2018
Click here for details.
NPC @ MedCity CONVERGE
July 11-12, 2018
Click here for details.
Examining the Impact of Real-World Evidence on Medical Development: Application
July 17, 2018
Click here for details.
eyeforpharma Value Summit 2018
November 7-8, 2018
Click here for details.
10. Medical Journal Articles
Inverting the Patient Involvement Paradigm: Defining Patient Led Research, click here to view.
Stakeholder-Driven, Consensus Development Methods to Design an Ethical Framework and Guidelines for Engaged Research, clickhere to view.
The Effect of Medical Technology Innovations on Patient Outcomes, 1990-2015: Results of a Physician Survey, click here to view.
The Impact of Individual Patient Data in a Network MetaAnalysis: An Investigation into Parameter Estimation and Model Selection, click here to view.
Patient Similarity for Precision Medicine: A Systematic Review, click here to view.
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement in Health Services Research, click here to view.
Care Transitions From Patient and Caregiver Perspectives, click here to view.
Incorporating Quantitative Patient Preference Data into Healthcare Decision Making Processes: Is HTA Falling Behind? Click here to view.
A Framework for Identifying Treatment-Covariate Interactions in Individual Participant Data Network Meta-Analysis, click here to view.
Nursing Research, CER, PICO and PCORI, click here to view.
Comment & Response: Measures of the Burden of Medical Expenses, click here to view.
A New Framework for Patient Engagement in Cancer Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Studies, click here to view.
Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs): Identifying Challenges and Solutions to Support Engagement in Research, click here to view.
Missing Data in Trial-Based Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: An Incomplete Journey, click here to view.
11. AHRQ Effective Program Updates
Collaboration Is Key to Accelerating Diagnostics Access to Optimize Benefits of Precision Medicines, click here to view.
Registries for Evaluating Patient Outcomes: A User’s Guide Call for Case Examples, click here to view.
Telehealth for Acute and Chronic Care Consultations, click here to view.
Library of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Resources, click here to view.
Mobile Health Applications for Self-Management of Diabetes, click here to view.
Role of Immunotherapy in the Treatment of Asthma, click here to view.
Library of Common Data Definitions: Atrial Fibrillation, click here to view.
Library of Common Data Definitions: Asthma, click here to view.
Patient or Participant Generated Registries, click here to view.
Effects of Dietary Sodium and Potassium Intake on Chronic Disease Outcomes and Related Risk Factors, click here to view.
Prioritization and Selection of Harms for Inclusion in Systematic Reviews, click here to view.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Diagnosis and Treatment in Children and Adolescents, click here to view.
A Framework for Conceptualizing Evidence Needs of Health Systems, click here to view.
Nonsurgical Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Adult Women: A Systematic Review Update, click here to view.
Drug Therapy for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review Update, click here to view.
Effects of Dietary Sodium and Potassium Intake on Chronic Disease Outcomes and Related Risk Factors, click here to view.
