Practice Guidelines

Overview of Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Efforts Gao ID: T-HEHS-95-221 July 25, 1995

In 1989, Congress created the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research--part of the Public Health Service--to serve as the federal government's focal point for effectiveness and outcomes research. The agency was required to develop clinical practice guidelines to help doctors and patients make decisions about prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of specific clinical conditions. The goal was to optimize care, eliminate waste, and avoid unnecessary procedures. Typically, guideline development entails a consensus of expert medical opinion, a synthesis of current scientific evidence, or a combination of these approaches. This testimony examines the efficiency and effectiveness of the agency's clinical practice guideline efforts.



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