Given the political maelstrom and misinformation campaign of the past few months regarding comparative effectiveness research -- research that attempts to analyze which of our treatment options are more effective than others in terms of quality and cost -- it’s a relief to see the government agency not caving to fraudulent political controversy and sticking up for a vital component of our health care reform.

The Department of Health and Human Services has released a Draft Definition of Comparative Effectiveness Research, guiding the research programs they will design throughout the year, and are inviting public comment.

Go the HHS Web site and thank them for committing to robust comparative effectiveness research to better inform doctors and patients.

Suggested comments:

Given the wasteful spending in our health care system, it is more important than ever to engage in robust research on what treatments work and what do not.  Doing so empowers doctors and patients, and helps make our practice of medicine more evidence-based.  Having read your definition, I am relieved to say I heartily agree with it.

I am particularly glad to see that you have stuck to your evidence-based guns in the face of political pressure and included "cost" as a factor in determining comparative effectiveness.  Although it is no means the only factor, I strongly feel that it must be considered where appropriate.  I appreciate and applaud you for recognizing that comparative effectiveness research must also look at how much we're paying when treatments are otherwise roughly as effective as one another in terms of health outcomes.  Keep up the good work.