Pelosi Statement on $75 Million in Recovery Act Grants to California for Research on Patient-Centered Outcomes

Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Pelosi issued the following statement today after the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) at the Department of Health and Human Services announced $473 million in Recovery Act grants to support research into patient-centered outcomes.

“When doctors and patients are armed with the facts, they have the ability to make informed decisions on the best course of care for that patient. By investing in patient-centered outcomes research, also known as comparative effectiveness research, we can ensure that health decisions are based on the highest quality information regarding the effectiveness, benefits, or possible risks associated with various health treatments and therapies. Without eliminating individual choices, this funding will make data available to help doctors and patients determine what particular treatment might best benefit a particular patient.

“The continued investments of the Recovery Act and the Affordable Care Act to research in patient-centered outcomes will pay dividends in high-quality research jobs, better informed doctors and patients, and reduced wasteful spending in our heath care sector. Researchers at UC San Francisco and across the nation will utilize these funds to promote evidence-based decision making that leads to the best possible health outcomes. With more than $75 million in grants, California will continue to lead the nation in cutting-edge innovation for heath research.”