What is being hailed as a victory for drug companies who made sure somehow to insert into the final bill, should actually be a super opportunity for us in physical therapy. Remember, our EIM mantra: “you have drugs, you have surgery, or you have us”. Comparative effectiveness research could suggest that based on significantly lower costs and less potential adverse effects, interventions that we provide for musculoskeletal conditions can come out on top-a boon for us.
For those of you interested, a good analysis of how language for this bill was resolved can be found here at Health Care Policy blog.
From the “American Recovery and Reinvestment — Conference Report,” page 157 of Division A:
“That the funding appropriated in this paragraph shall be used to accelerate the development and dissemination of research assessing the comparative effectiveness of health care treatments and strategies through efforts that: (1) conduct, support, or synthesize research that compares clinical [emphasis added] outcomes effectiveness, appropriateness of items, services, and procedures that are used to prevent, diagnose, or treat diseases, and other health conditions…”
From what I can tell, this type of research aims at finding the “best bang for the buck” for any given health condition. Yes, lots of questions about methodology come to mind including that fact that a lot of this research is based on analysis of chart reviews but undoubtedly this is an opportunity.
Now, we need leadership from the clinical scientists within the profession to stand out and undoubtedly support from all through funding, including strong support to the Foundation for Physical Therapy.Perhaps this is just the type of “change” we need to propel and get us really Moving Foward.
Thoughts?
