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Studies from D.B. Clohan et al add new findings in the area of health policy



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2008 JAN 14 -- "This article summarizes the research and health policy recommendations developed by participants at the symposium ''State-of-the-Science on Post-Acute Rehabilitation: Setting a Research Agenda and Developing an Evidence Base for Practice and Public Policy,'' held in February 2007," researchers in the United States report.

"A diverse group of participants represented federal government agencies, private insurers, professional organizations, providers of rehabilitation services, patients and their advocates, and health researchers. During roundtable discussions and theme-specific break-out sessions, participants were asked to consider 5 major topics regarding postacute rehabilitation care: (1) the extent of out knowledge, (2) the limitations of our knowledge, (3) the barriers that limit research, (4) research priorities to reduce these obstacles and assemble needed evidence, and (5) the major policy implications," wrote D.B. Clohan and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "Several key themes emerged: the need for improved measures, particularly of case-mix factors and treatment ingredients; the need for a more uniform and coherent system of postacute rehabilitation care to facilitate gathering of common data; the need to attend to underutilization as well as overutilization of rehabilitation services; the need for cooperation among payers, providers, and researchers to advance a rehabilitation effectiveness research agenda; and the desire to develop payment policies that are based on research evidence."

Clohan and colleagues published their study in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Postacute rehabilitation research and policy recommendations. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2007;88(11):1535-1541).

For additional information, contact A.W. Heinemann, Rehabilitation Institute Chicago, Center Rehabilitation Outcomes Research, 345 E Super St., Chicago, IL 60611, USA.

Publisher contact information for the journal Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is: W B Saunders Co-Elsevier Inc., 1600 John F Kennedy Boulevard, Ste. 1800, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2899, USA.

Keywords: United States, Chicago, Health Policy, Legislation, Rehabilitation Research.

This article was prepared by Managed Care Weekly Digest editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Managed Care Weekly Digest via NewsRx.com.