Part 2. Summary of AHRQ Performance Objectives

Contents

Budget Line 1: Research on Health Costs, Quality, and Outcomes
          Goal 1: Establish Research Agenda Based on Users' Needs
          Goal 2: Make Significant Contributions to Effective Functioning of the U.S. Health Care System
          Through Creation of New Knowledge
          Goal 3: Foster Translation and Dissemination of New Knowledge into Practice by Developing
          and Providing Information, Products, and Tools on Outcomes, Quality, and Access, Cost, and
          Use of Care
          Goal 4: Evaluate the Effectiveness and Impact of AHRQ Research and Associated Activities
          Goal 5: Support Initiative to Improve Health Care Quality Through Leadership and Research
Budget Line 2: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
          Goal 6: Collect current data and create data tapes and associated products on health care use
          and expenditure for use by public and private-sector decision makers and researchers
Budget Line 3: Program Support


Budget Line 1: Research on Health Costs, Quality, and Outcomes

Funding Levels:

Fiscal Year 1999: $139,314,000 (Actual).
Fiscal Year 2000: $165,293,000 (Enacted).
Fiscal Year 2001: $226,446,000 (Appropriation).
Fiscal Year 2002: $255,145,000 (President's Budget).


Goal 1: Establish Research Agenda Based on Users' Needs.

Objective 1.1: Define direction of Fiscal Year project funding priorities, in large part, by needs assessment activities.

Target, Fiscal Year 2002: Agency research agenda covering strategic goal areas for Fiscal Year 2002 priorities (investigator-initiated research, national quality report, national disparities report) is documented by March 2002 based on consultations with various groups.
Reference: Commitment Base.

Target, Fiscal Year 2001: Agency research agenda covering strategic goal areas for Fiscal Year 2001 priorities (patient safety and informatics) is documented based on consultations with various groups.
Reference: Commitment Base.

Target, Fiscal Year 2000: Agency research agenda covering the three strategic research goals and the new Fiscal Year 2000 closing the gap initiatives are documented based on consultations with various groups.
Actual Performance: Completed.
Reference: Mission Statement.

Target, Fiscal Year 1999: Agency research agenda covering the three strategic research goals is developed in Fiscal Year 1999 and documented based on consultations with various groups.
Actual Performance: Completed. For Details, Select GPRA Goal 7 and Appendix 5.

Return to Contents

Goal 2: Make Significant Contributions to the Effective Functioning of the U.S. Health Care System Through the Creation of New Knowledge

Fiscal Years 2001 and 2002 Objective 2.1: Determine annually the salient findings from research in each of the three areas (outcomes, quality, and cost, access, and use) and develop a plan for next steps (translation and dissemination.)

Targets, Fiscal Year 2002:

Reference: Commitment Base.

Targets, Fiscal Year 2001:

Reference: Commitment Base.

Fiscal Year 2000 Objective 2.1: Determine annually the salient findings from research in each of the three areas (outcomes; quality; and cost, access, and use) and develop plan for next steps (translation and dissemination.)

Targets, Fiscal Year 2000:

Fiscal Year 1999 Objective 2.1: Determine the salient findings from research for three priority populations and develop plan for next steps in translation and dissemination.

Target, Fiscal Year 1999: A report produced that synthesizes research on the major health concerns of at least three priority populations.
Actual Performance: Completed. For Details, Select GPRA: Appendix 6.

((CHECK APPENDIX NUMBER))

Objective 2.2: Achieve significant findings from AHRQ sponsored and conducted research.

Target, Fiscal Year 2002: Findings form at least 20 AHRQ sponsored or conducted research are used by public and private partners to improve health care.
Reference: Commitment Base.

Target, Fiscal Year 2001: same as 2000, except changed to 40 findings.
Reference: Commitment Base.

Target, Fiscal Year 2000: Findings from at least 25 AHRQ sponsored or conducted research projects are published in major peer reviewed professional publications (New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of American Medical Association, etc.); receive national press coverage; are used in Federal or State policymaking; are used by professional associations or health plans as the basis of strategies to achieve quality; or are used to establish coverage decisions by health care purchasers, managed care organizations, or insurers, including Medicare or Medicaid.
Actual Performance: 400 percent increase: 250 citations for AHRQ findings (20 listed). 32 examples of major media coverage; 7 examples of use.
Reference: Commitment Base.

Target, Fiscal Year 1999: Findings from at least 10 AHRQ sponsored or funded research projects are published in major peer reviewed professional publications (New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of American Medical Association, etc.); receive national press coverage; are used in Federal or State policymaking; are used by professional associations or health plans as the basis of strategies to achieve quality; or are used to establish coverage decisions by health care purchasers, managed care organizations, or insurers, including Medicare or Medicaid.
Actual Performance: 50 citations for AHRQ findings; 7 examples of major media coverage; 7 examples of use.

Fiscal Years 2001 and 2002 Objective 2.3: Initiate Fiscal Year Research Initiatives

Target, Fiscal Year 2002: Funding of a minimum of 100 projects; 30 percent of these projects address priority populations.
Reference: For details, select Budget.

Targets, Fiscal Year 2001: Funding of a minimum of 60 projects in the following areas:

Fiscal Year 2000 Objective 2.3: Implement Fiscal Year 2000 priority (1) "New Research on Priority Health Issues."

Targets, Fiscal Year 2000:

Fiscal Year 1999 Objective 2.3: Initiate Fiscal Year 1999 Research Initiatives

Targets, Fiscal Year 1999: Funding of a minimum of 21 projects in:

Actual Performance: 56 projects funded.

Targets, Fiscal Year 1999: Funding of a minimum of 17 projects in:

Actual Performance: 51 projects funded. For details, select GPRA: Disparities.

Return to Contents

Goal 3: Foster translation and dissemination of new knowledge into practice by developing and providing information, products, and tools on outcomes; quality; and access, cost, and use of care.

Fiscal Years 2002 and 2001 Objective 3.1: Maximize dissemination of information, tools, and products developed from research results for use in practice settings. NOTE: in the Fiscal Year 2001 plan, objective 3.1 and 3.2 have been consolidated.

Targets, Fiscal Year 2002:

Reference: Commitment Base.

Target, Fiscal Year 2001:

Fiscal Years 2000 and 1999 Objective 3.1: Promote distribution of AHRQ publications, products, and tools through intermediary organizations.

Target, Fiscal Year 2000: Formation of a minimum of five partnerships to support dissemination of AHRQ products through intermediary organizations, such as health plans and professional organizations.
Actual Performance: Over 30 public/private and public/public partnerships formed.
Reference: Commitment Base.

Target, Fiscal Year 1999: Formation of a minimum of five partnerships to support dissemination of AHRQ products through intermediary organizations, such as health plans and professional organizations.
Actual Performance: Over 30 public/private and public/public partnerships formed.

Fiscal Years 2001 and 2002 Objective 3.2: Develop and facilitate the use of new tools, talent, products, and implementation methodologies stemming from research portfolio. (This is objective 3.3 in Fiscal Year 1999-2000)

Targets, Fiscal Year 2002:

Targets, Fiscal Year 2001:

Fiscal Years 1999 and 2000 Objective 3.2: Maximize dissemination of information, tools, and products developed from research results for use in practice settings. (Becomes Objective 3.1 in Fiscal Year 2001.)

Targets, Fiscal Year 2000:

Targets, Fiscal Year 1999:

Objective 3.3: (This becomes objective 3.2 in Fiscal Year 2001. Objective 3.3 is discontinued in Fiscal Year 2001.)

Fiscal Years 1999 and 2000 Objective 3.3: Develop and facilitate the use of new tools, talent, products, and implementation methodologies stemming from research portfolio.

Targets, Fiscal Year 2000:

Target, Fiscal Year 1999:

Return to Contents

Goal 4: Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of AHRQ research and associated activities.

Fiscal Years 2001 and 2002 Objective 4.1: Evaluate the impact of AHRQ sponsored products in advancing methods to measure and improve health care. NOTE: 1999 - 2000 Objectives 4.1 and 4.2 have been consolidated in the Fiscal Year 2001 plan.

Targets, Fiscal Year 2002:

Reference: Commitment Base.

Evidence-based Practice Centers

Reference: Commitment Base.

Targets, Fiscal Year 2001:

Fiscal Year 2000 Objective 4.1 (and 4.2): Evaluate the impact of AHRQ sponsored products in advancing methods to measure and improve health care.

Note: Objectives 4.1 and 4.2 were inadvertently the same. They have been consolidated to simplify the reporting.

Targets, Fiscal Year 2000:

Fiscal Year 1999 Objective 4.1: Evaluate the impact of AHRQ sponsored products in advancing methods to measure and improve health care.

Targets, Fiscal Year 1999:

Fiscal Years 2002-2001 Objective 4.2: Evaluate the impact of MEPS data and associated products on policymaking and research products.

Targets, Fiscal Year 2002:

Targets, Fiscal Year 2001:

Targets, Fiscal Year 2000: See above 4.1 for 2000.

Fiscal Year 1999 Objective 4.2: Evaluate major dissemination mechanisms.

Fiscal Year 2001 Objective 4.3: N/A.

Fiscal Year 2000 Objective 4.3: Evaluate the impact of MEPS data and associated products on policymaking and research projects.

Targets, Fiscal Year 2000:

Fiscal Year 1999 Objective 4.3: N/A.

Return to Contents
Proceed to Next Section