AHRQ Child and Adolescent Health Update

AHRQ Child and Adolescent Health Update
Volume 12, Number 02—February 1, 2010
Today's Headlines:
1. Public Expert Meeting – Measure Criteria for CHIPRA Pediatric Quality Measures Program, AHRQ Feb. 24-25, 2010
2. REMINDER—Public Comment Open on CHIPRA Children's Health Care Quality Measures Through March 1
3. REMINDER—Registration Underway for Second Annual CMS Multi-Health IT Collaborative Conference for e-Health
4. REMINDER—Nominations Requested for Effective Health Care Stakeholder Group
5. New USPSTF Recommendation: Screening for Obesity in Children and Adolescents
6. Effective Health Care Program Update: New Key Questions Available
7. Request for Proposal: “Accelerating Change and Transformation in Organizations and Networks (ACTION II)”

1. Public Expert Meeting – Measure Criteria for CHIPRA Pediatric Quality Measures Program, AHRQ Feb. 24-25, 2010
In close collaboration with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services and the CHIPRA Federal Quality Workgroup, AHRQ will be hosting an Expert meeting to identify measurement criteria for the CHIPRA Pediatric Quality Measures Program.
The meeting sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Eastern Time, and Thursday, Feb. 25, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Eastern Time. Both sessions are open to the public.
An opportunity for public comments will be provided on both days of the session.
An agenda will be posted soon on the AHRQ CHIPRA Web site (http://www.ahrq.gov/chip/chipraact.htm). The Web site also includes links to the CHIPRA Legislation, including the section on the Pediatric Quality Measures Program in Title IV (http://www.ahrq.gov/chip/chipraact.htm#Legislation).
A local map showing AHRQ and directions to the Agency can be found at http://www.ahrq.gov/about/map.htm.


2. REMINDER—Public Comment Open on CHIPRA Children's Health Care Quality Measures Through March 1
As required by CHIPRA, the Secretary has posted for public comment an initial, recommended core set of children's health care quality measures and has invited public comment.
Public comment on the core measures will be accepted through March 1, 2010.
To view the notice and an associated background paper with a description of the process used to identify the core set and details on the recommended measures, visit http://www.ahrq.gov/chip/chipraact.htm#Core.
Comments must be submitted to CHIPRAqualitymeasures@ahrq.hhs.gov, or to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Attention: Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations—Public Comment, CHIPRA Core Measures, 540 Gaither Road., Rockville MD, 20850, by March 1, 2010.


3. REMINDER—Registration Underway for Second Annual CMS Multi-Health IT Collaborative Conference for e-Health
Come together with Federal and State partners to:
Discuss efforts to promote adoption of Electronic Health Record/Health Information Technology (HIT).
Share best practices for implementing and evaluating Health IT.
Hear the latest information on Federal and State implementation of the Health IT provisions of the Recovery Act.
Conference participants include State Medicaid and CHIP programs, State health information technology coordinators, and State-designated entities. The conference will have technical support and participation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and nongovernment stakeholders. Please visit http://www.blsmeetings.net/CMSHealthIT2010 for registration, lodging, and other conference information. Registration for the February 8-9 conference is free, however, interested participants must be registered to attend.


4. REMINDER—Nominations Requested for Effective Health Care Stakeholder Group
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is inviting nominations from interested organizations and knowledgeable individuals for membership in the Stakeholder Group supporting the work of the Effective Health Care Program. The goals of this program are to develop evidence on the effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of different treatments and health care interventions of importance to the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Child Health Insurance programs. Nominations must be received no later than February 8, 2010. For complete details go to: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/E9-31341.htm.


5. New USPSTF Recommendation: Screening for Obesity in Children and Adolescents
Based on new evidence that children and adolescents can be effectively treated for obesity, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that clinicians screen children ages 6 to 18 years for obesity and refer them to programs to improve their weight status. Comprehensive programs include 3 components: 1) Counseling for weight loss or healthy diet; 2) Counseling for physical activity or a physical activity program; and, 3) Behavioral management techniques such as goal setting and self monitoring. Moderate- to high-intensity programs involve more than 25 contact hours with the child and/or family over a 6-month period. Families seeking treatment for obesity should look for comprehensive programs that address weight control through healthy food choices, physical activity, and behavioral skill-building.
The USPSTF recommendation was released January 18 online. The recommendation will be published in the February issue of Pediatrics and is also available on the AHRQ Web site at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspschobes.htm. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is the leading independent panel of experts in prevention and primary care. The Task Force, which is supported by AHRQ, conducts rigorous, impartial assessments of the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of a broad range of clinical preventive services, including screening, counseling, and preventive medications.


6. Effective Health Care Program Update: New Key Questions Now Available
New key questions titled “Comparative Effectiveness of Off-Label Use of Atypical Antipsychotics—Update” have been proposed for a comparative effectiveness review under the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Effective Health Care Program. This research will update an earlier report titled “Efficacy and Comparative Effectiveness of Off-Label Use of Atypical Antipsychotics,” which can be accessed at: http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/search-for-guides-reviews-and-reports/?pageaction=displayproduct&productID=63. Please visit http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/research-available-for-comment/ to review or comment on the proposed key questions. More information on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program is available at: effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov.


7. Request for Proposal: “Accelerating Change and Transformation in Organizations and Networks (ACTION II)”On January 22 AHRQ released a national solicitation for a successor program to "Accelerating Change and Transformation in Organizations and Networks" (ACTION). You can access the solicitation at: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=faae5a45751ddd9faae33c4f24bf707c&tab=core&_cview=0.