At a time of tension between vigorous innovation and increasing costs in health care, health care decision makers require comprehensive evidence of the value of new drugs, devices, procedures, and biologics.  Policy makers and proponents of health care system reform thus routinely argue that simultaneously meeting the goals of sustained innovation, cost control, and improved quality within the health care system will require more explicit appraisal of the clinical effectiveness and comparative value of new and existing interventions. The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) was created to fill this evidence gap.

New England Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council

The New England Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (CEPAC) aids patients, physicians and policymakers in New England in the application and use of comparative effectiveness information to improve the quality and value of healthcare in the region.  CEPAC is an independent body of 19 members, composed of clinicians and patient or public representatives from each New England state with skills in the interpretation and application of medical evidence in health care delivery.  Representatives of state public health programs and of regional private payers are included as ex-officio members of CEPAC.  The latest information on the project is available on the CEPAC website.

ICER, in collaboration with Massachusetts Health Leaders for Appropriate and Affordable Healthcare, created a web-based patient decision aid to help low-risk prostate cancer patients understand the management options available for the condition.  The website is a community tool that translates ICER's comparative effectiveness research into patient-friendly information.