Message from the Director

Looking forward into the remainder of 2011, it is encouraging to see how the Center’s original vision and commitment have proven spot on: research, educational programs, and policy initiatives at the intersection of technological innovation and economic affordability. Highlights of the year to date include publication of our Issue Brief series on value purchasing for medical devices; peer-reviewed articles on Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER), value-based insurance design (VBID), hospital pricing, and the response of hospitals to Medicare payment shortfalls; student workshops and industry roundtables; and an expansion of our activities to other nations that share our concerns with promoting access to appropriate clinical technologies.

Important among our current projects are initiatives in the domains of provider payment (episode-of-care pricing); effect of consumer cost sharing on use of biopharmaceuticals; organizational integration (accountable care organizations); and consumer cost sharing (value-based insurance design). Most importantly, from an organizational perspective, we have hired three exciting individuals to the BCHT staff: an associate director of quantitative research studies, an associate director for qualitative research studies, and a program coordinator.

James Robinson, BCHT Director

Message from the Director

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