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42 U.S. Code § 1320b-12. Research on outcomes of health care services and procedures
(a) Establishment of program
(1) In generalThe Secretary, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, shall—
(A)
conduct and support research with respect to the outcomes, effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care services and procedures in order to identify the manner in which diseases, disorders, and other health conditions can most effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, and managed clinically; and
(B)
assure that the needs and priorities of the program under subchapter XVIII are appropriately reflected in the development and periodic review and updating (through the process set forth in section 299b–2 [1] of this title) of treatment-specific or condition-specific practice guidelines for clinical treatments and conditions in forms appropriate for use in clinical practice, for use in educational programs, and for use in reviewing quality and appropriateness of medical care.
(2) Evaluations of alternative services and procedures
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall conduct or support evaluations of the comparative effects, on health and functional capacity, of alternative services and procedures utilized in preventing, diagnosing, treating, and clinically managing diseases, disorders, and other health conditions.
(3) Initial guidelines
(A) In carrying out paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection, and section 299b–1(d) 1 of this title, the Secretary shall, by not later than January 1, 1991, assure the development of an initial set of the guidelines specified in paragraph (1)(B) that shall include not less than 3 clinical treatments or conditions that—
(i)
(I)
account for a significant portion of expenditures under subchapter XVIII; and
(II)
have a significant variation in the frequency or the type of treatment provided; or
(ii)
otherwise meet the needs and priorities of the program under subchapter XVIII, as set forth under subsection (b)(3).
(B)
(i)
The Secretary shall provide for the use of guidelines developed under subparagrah [2] (A) to improve the quality, effectiveness, and appropriateness of care provided under subchapter XVIII. The Secretary shall determine the impact of such use on the quality, appropriateness, effectiveness, and cost of medical care provided under such subchapter and shall report to the Congress on such determination by not later than January 1, 1993.
(ii)
For the purpose of carrying out clause (i), the Secretary shall expend, from the amounts specified in clause (iii), $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1990 and $1,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 and 1992.
(iii) For each fiscal year, for purposes of expenditures required in clause (ii)—
(I)
60 percent of an amount equal to the expenditure involved is appropriated from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (established under section 1395i of this title); and
(II)
40 percent of an amount equal to the expenditure involved is appropriated from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund (established under section 1395t of this title).