SMDM Statement on Comparative Effectiveness Legislation

ROLES FOR SMDM ROLE IN POLICY

In its initial stages, the SMDM policy initiative is focusing on three key areas: methodological issues in medical decision making, public health, and the actual and potential roles of technology assessment on coverage/reimbursement policy. We envision the roles SMDM might play within each of these focus areas to include:

• Creating learning opportunities for our members and for external audiences (decision makers, other researchers, stakeholders, others)
• Communicating to members about the key issues
• Providing knowledge and tools to our members so they can be more fully engaged in policy

We realize additional opportunities for SMDM involvement will arise as the Working Groups develop and those opportunities will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

FOCUS AREAS AND LEADERSHIP

• Issues in Methodology

  The Society is interested in soliciting, preparing, and endorsing high quality guidelines, and position papers on a variety of clinical, methodological, and policy topics of key relevance to the membership. The objective of this endeavor is for the Society to leverage the expertise of its members to develop a set of landmark position papers for submission to Medical Decision Making.

• Senior Chair: Karen Kuntz
• Co-Chair: Uwe Siebert
• Board Liaison: Alan Schwartz

• Public Health Policy

  This effort is focusing on three key strategies: 1) educating SMDM members about the policy making process and about how analyses are used by policy makers, 2) creating a network of people within SMDM that policy makers can come to for advice and 3) connecting to other associations and societies where people are doing economic evaluation of public health programs and policy.

• Chair: Scott Grosse
• Co-chair: Rochelle Walensky
• Board Liaison: Phaedra Corso
• Advisor: Doug Owens

 

• Technology Assessment

  The SMDM Board of Trustees unanimously approved a statement on comparative effectiveness legislation prepared by the SMDM Technology Assessment Working Group. The statement outlines seven key elements the Board of SMDM thinks are important to include in any comparative effectiveness legislation. The group continues to monitor the future of this proposed legislation and is exploring other issues.

• Senior Co-Chairs: Alan Garber, Scott Gazelle and Mark Liebow
• Co-Chairs: Amber Barnato and James Stahl
• Board Liaison: Allison Rosen

To join one of the Policy Working Groups, email SMDM Executive Director, Jill Metcalf at jill.metcalf@smdm.org.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

1. Members will increase their knowledge about and involvement in the policy making process.
2. Members will be more engaged in SMDM because of our role in policy making.
3. MDM concepts and tools will be used to evaluate policy options in the areas where we choose to focus our resources.
4. Methods of medical decision making will improve as a result of their use and feedback.
5. SMDM will attract new sources of revenue to support our mission.
6. SMDM will be known as a resource for unbiased, rigorous analysis of issues in the policy making process.
7. SMDM becomes a primary source of knowledge for integrating research and application.