New Institute of Medicine Report: Cost Should Play Role in Comparing Medical Treatments
JULY 1, 2009
According to a report released yesterday by the Institute of Medicine, cost should be a part of federally funded studies comparing the benefits of medicine. The study was written at the request of Congress to help the federal government determine priorities for conducting studies that compare medical treatments, including the benefits of certain diabetes and epilepsy drugs. The report was authored by more than 20 doctors and scientists. Brain L. Strom, MD, MPH, Chair and Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, and Director of the Center for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, comments in several articles in The Wall Street Journal online, DowJones.com, CNNMoney.com and the Morning Star News in Chicago. According to Dr. Strom, comparing medical treatments helps doctors move away from "trial-and-error" treatments and that it is often difficult for physicians to understand what treatments work best when there are multiple medicines and treatment options available.
