Comparative effectiveness research in the United States: a catalyst for innovation.

Recent calls for value in the US healthcare system have spurred an increase in comparative effectiveness research, which generates evidence on competing treatment options to inform healthcare stakeholders. As a large healthcare purchaser, the federal government has made several significant investments in comparative effectiveness research. Notably, in 2009 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocated $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research, and in 2010 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act established a federal institute to organize the federal investment in comparative effectiveness research going forward. Over the past several years, comparative effectiveness research from the public and private sectors has begun to provide a foundation for innovation within the insurance and life sciences industries. Health plans and other payers are experimenting with nuanced coverage and reimbursement policies informed by comparative effectiveness evidence. Anticipating changes in payer, patient, and provider behaviors, drug manufacturers are refocusing their efforts on the development of novel and better-differentiated medications. As more comparative research becomes available in the future, continued innovation in payer and manufacturer strategies appears likely.