124 STAT. 728 PUBLIC LAW 111–148—MAR. 23, 2010 of biasing an individual’s decisions in matters related to the Institute or the conduct of activities under this section. ‘‘(4) REAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST.—The term ‘real conflict of interest’ means any instance where a member of the Board, the methodology committee established under subsection (d)(6), or an advisory panel appointed under subsection (d)(4), or a close relative of such member, has received or could receive either of the following: ‘‘(A) A direct financial benefit of any amount deriving from the result or findings of a study conducted under this section. ‘‘(B) A financial benefit from individuals or companies that own or manufacture medical treatments, services, or items to be studied under this section that in the aggregate exceeds $10,000 per year. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a financial benefit includes honoraria, fees, stock, or other financial benefit and the current value of the member or close relative’s already existing stock holdings, in addition to any direct financial benefit deriving from the results or findings of a study conducted under this section. ‘‘(b) PATIENT-CENTERED OUTCOMES RESEARCH INSTITUTE.— ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is authorized to be established a nonprofit corporation, to be known as the ‘Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’ (referred to in this section as the ‘Institute’) which is neither an agency nor establishment of the United States Government. ‘‘(2) APPLICATION OF PROVISIONS.—The Institute shall be subject to the provisions of this section, and, to the extent consistent with this section, to the District of Columbia Non- profit Corporation Act. ‘‘(3) FUNDING OF COMPARATIVE CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH.—For fiscal year 2010 and each subsequent fiscal year, amounts in the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (referred to in this section as the ‘PCORTF’) under section 9511 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be available, without further appropriation, to the Institute to carry out this section. ‘‘(c) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Institute is to assist patients, clinicians, purchasers, and policy-makers in making informed health decisions by advancing the quality and relevance of evidence con- cerning the manner in which diseases, disorders, and other health conditions can effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, monitored, and managed through research and evidence synthesis that considers variations in patient subpopula- tions, and the dissemination of research findings with respect to the relative health outcomes, clinical effectiveness, and appropriate- ness of the medical treatments, services, and items described in subsection (a)(2)(B). ‘‘(d) DUTIES.— ‘‘(1) IDENTIFYING RESEARCH PRIORITIES AND ESTABLISHING RESEARCH PROJECT AGENDA.— ‘‘(A) IDENTIFYING RESEARCH PRIORITIES.—The Institute shall identify national priorities for research, taking into account factors of disease incidence, prevalence, and burden in the United States (with emphasis on chronic conditions), gaps in evidence in terms of clinical outcomes, practice District of Columbia.
