ACP Issues Call for Cost-Effectiveness Research : It's time to back up treatment decisions with solid cost-effectiveness data, asserts the ACP in a position paper.

The ACP would support adding such research funding to the AHRQ's budget if the studies could be adequately protected from the influence of special interests, Dr. Kirschner said.

However, the ACP believes that AHRQ may not be the best place for such a research effort, he said. As an agency within the executive branch of government, AHRQ "may not be protected enough from influence" from various stakeholders, he said.

Instead, the ACP in its position paper recommends establishment of a completely independent national entity that is "protected from undue government and private sector influence." The entity should be completely transparent, should include extensive stakeholder involvement, and should implement processes to ensure the general dissemination of its findings, according to the position paper.