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Consumer ThreatsEvidence-based medicine is a tool which should be used to guide treatment decisions with the ultimate goal of improving patient care and outcomes. Not all healthcare treatments will be equally effective for each individual patient. The Alliance for Better Medicine Supports: 1) Well-designed treatment guidelines which take into consideration individual differences and which are used to guide treatment decisions. Final treatment decisions, however, should be made between the treating practitioner and the patient or consumer of healthcare. 2) Patient care approaches which improve long-term health outcomes, effectively manage chronic conditions, and provide individualized healthcare. The Alliance for Better Medicine Opposes: 1) The use of comparative effectiveness reviews to make or guide coverage decisions. 2) "Evidence-based medicine" which does not involve patients and healthcare consumers throughout the development process. Examples: Oregon Drug Effectiveness Review Project: Read the ABM issue brief on evidence based medicine Consumers Union Best Buy Drug Program Consumers Union Report on Best Buy Drugs ABM response to Consumers Union Report Washington State Health Technology Assessment Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality |
What's NewRead our new Blog! September 18th, 2007 - Cancer patients will be holding a rally at the FDA protesting recent decisions to deny cancer patients new, potentially life-saving treatments. More Information... August 16, 2007 - Alliance For Better Medicine letter to the editor is published in the Wall Street Journal. Read the Letter May 21, 2007 - The Alliance For Better Medicine receives IRS 501(c)(3) designation. December 22, 2006 - ABM participates in a meeting with advocacy organizations and a representative of the Governor's office to discuss recommendations for California's Health Reform. October 30, 2006 - ABM meets with the California Department of Health Services about implementation of the California Healthcare Accountability Center. September 6, 2006 - Harold Pincus, MD joins the ABM medical advisory board. February 16, 2006 - Ruben King-Shaw Jr., CEO of Mansa Equity Partners, Inc., and former Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Office of the CMS, joins the ABM steering committee. December 6, 2005 - Sacramento, CA Alliance meets with staff in Gov. Schwarzenegger's office to discuss implementation of the California Healthcare Accountability Center. October 18, 2005 - Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, MD joins the ABM steering committee. October 7, 2005 - Bryan Luce, Ph.D., MBA joins the ABM steering committee. |
"Educate policymakers and the public to achieve the best and most cost effective outcomes in healthcare utilizing the best available science and information developed in consultation with researchers, practitioners and recipients of care, that considers the differences in responses to specific medications or procedures- based upon factors such as age, sex, race, ethnicity and co-occurring disorders.”