IOM Releases Report and Priorities for Comparative Effectiveness

By Susan J. Matthees –

The Institute of Medicine (“IOM”) has released a report and a list of priorities for comparative effectiveness research to be funded by The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the stimulus bill).  The IOM list contains 100 priority topics, which are listed in groups of 25 from the highest priority group to the lowest priority group.  The top priorities vary widely and include comparative effectiveness studies for use of biologics to treat inflammatory diseases (e.g., Crohn’s disease), imaging technologies used to diagnose and monitor patients, genetic and biomarker testing to treat certain cancers, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments in managing behavior disorders in people with Alzheimer’s disease, and treatments for hearing loss in children in adults (e.g., assistive listening devices, cochlear implants, sign language).  The bottom of the list includes comparative effectiveness studies for long-term treatments for acne, diagnostic imaging performed by non-radiologists and radiologists, and smoking cessation strategies.