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HHS is currently developing a plan that specifies the kind and scope of activities that HHS will fund to achieve the program’s objectives. HHS is considering various approaches for this program to complement the funding in AHRQ and NIH. Consistent with the Recovery Act, funds will be used to accelerate the development and dissemination of research assessing the comparative effectiveness of health care treatments and strategies through efforts that 1) conduct, support, or synthesize research that compares the clinical outcomes, effectiveness, and appropriateness of items, services and procedures that are used to prevent, diagnose, or treat diseases, disorders and other health conditions. The Secretary will also allocate funds to encourage the development and use of clinical registries, clinical data networks, and other forms of electronic health data that can be used to generate or obtain outcomes data.

In addition, the Recovery Act instructs the Secretary to enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) for no more than $1.5 million. The IOM is to produce and submit a report to Congress and the Secretary no later than June 30, 2009 recommending priorities for the comparative effectiveness research to be conducted or supported with Recovery Act funds for comparative effectiveness research allocated at the Secretary’s discretion. On February 28, 2009, HHS informed the Appropriations Committees of the House and of the Senate of the planned use of $1.5 million to contract with the IOM for this study. The Recovery Act also requires HHS, jointly with the directors of AHRQ and NIH, to provide an operating plan to Congress before obligating any Recovery Act funds for comparative effectiveness research.

Section 804(f) of the Recovery Act addressed the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research and instructed the Secretary to make no more than $4 million available to the Council for staff and administrative support. On April 23, 2009, HHS informed the Appropriations Committees of the House and of the Senate of the planned use of $1.1 million for logistical and research support for the Federal Coordinating Council in FY 2009.

All Recovery Act programs will be assessed for risk and to ensure that appropriate internal controls are in place throughout the entire funding cycle. An internal control is an accounting procedure or system designed to promote efficiency, assure the implementation of policy, and safeguard assets. These assessments will be done consistent with the statutory requirements of the Federal Manager’s Financial Integrity Act and the Improper Payments Information Act, as well as OMB’s circular A-123 “Management’s Responsibility for Internal Control”.

HHS is developing a process for periodic review of the program’s progress to identify areas of high risk, high and low performance, and any plans for longer term impact evaluation.

The Office of the Secretary (OS) will be open and transparent in all of its grants competitions that involve spending of Recovery Act funding consistent with statutory and OMB guidance.

HHS will ensure that recipient reporting required by Section 1512 of the Recovery Act and OMB guidance is made available to the public on Recovery.gov by October 10, 2009. HHS will inform recipients of their reporting obligation through standard terms and conditions, grant announcements, contract solicitations, and other program guidance. HHS will provide technical assistance to grantees and contractors and fully utilize Project officers to ensure compliance with reporting requirements. HHS and OS are still finalizing the process surrounding recipient-level reporting to the public. Once the process is finalized the information will be shared with recipients.

The OS does not anticipate any construction or renovation funded under this activity. However, HHS will ensure that it complies with energy efficiency and green building requirements, if applicable.