PUBLIC LAW 101-239—DEC. 19, 1989 103 STAT. 2197 "(B) uncertainties exist on the effect of utilizing a particu- lar service or procedure; or "(C) inappropriate services and procedures are provided. "(3) RELATIONSHIP WITH MEDICARE PROGRAM.—In establishing priorities under paragraph (1) for research and evaluation, and under section 914(a) of the Public Health Service Act for the agenda under such section, the Secretary shall assure that such priorities appropriately reflect the needs and priorities of the program under title XvIII, as set forth by the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration. "(c) METHODOLOGIES AND OUTERIA FOR EVALUATIONS. —For the purpose of facilitating research under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— "(1) conduct and support research with respect to the improvement of methodologies and criteria utilized in conduct- ing research with respect to outcomes of health care services and procedures; "(2) conduct and support reviews and evaluations of existing research findings with respect to such treatment or conditions; "(3) conduct and support reviews and evaluations of the exist- ing methodologies that use large data bases in conducting such research and shall develop new research methodologies, includ- ing data-based methods of advancing knowledge and methodolo- gies that measure clinical and functional status of patients, with respect to such research; "(4) provide grants and contracts to research centers, and contracts to other entities, to conduct such research on such treatment or conditions, including research on the appropriate use of prescription drugs; "(5) conduct and support research and demonstrations on the use of claims data and data on clinical and functional status of patients in determining the outcomes, effectiveness, and appro- priateness of such treatment; and "(6) conduct and support supplementation of existing data bases, including the collection of new information, to enhance data bsises for research purposes, and the design and develop- ment of new data bases that would be used in outcomes and effectiveness research. "(d) STANDARDS FOR DATA BASES. —In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall develop— "(1) uniform definitions of data to be collected and used in describing a patient's cliniced and functional status; "(2) common reporting formats and linkages for such data; and "(3) standards to assure the security, confidentiality, ac- curacy, and appropriate maintenance of such data. "(e) DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS AND GUIDELINES. — "(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide for the dissemi- nation of the findings of research and the guidelines described in subsection (a), and for the education of providers and others in the application of such research findings and guidelines. "(2) COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.—In disseminating findings and guidelines under paragraph (1), and in providing for education under such paragraph, the Secretary shall work with professioncd associations, medical specialty and sub- specialty organizations, and other relevant groups to identify and implement effective means to educate physicians, other Grants. Contracts. Education.
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