Technology Assessments The Technology Assessment (TA) Program at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides technology assessments for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). These technology assessments are used by CMS to inform its national coverage decisions for the Medicare program as well as provide information to Medicare carriers. AHRQ's TA Program uses state-of-the-art methodologies for assessing the clinical utility of medical interventions. Technology assessments are based on a systematic review of the literature, along with appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods of synthesizing data from multiple studies.Technology assessments may be done in-house by AHRQ staff, or they may be done in collaboration with one of our Evidence-based Practice Centers. When available, technology assessment topics are linked to corresponding information on the CMS Web site. For additional information, please contact the Technology Assessment Program at AHRQTAP@ahrq.hhs.gov.Public ReviewTo get complete public review, the AHRQ TA Program will post draft reports on the AHRQ TA Web site. To meet the timelines for Medicare coverage decisions mandated by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, draft technology assessment reports will be available for public review for a limited time. A notice will be sent out on the CMS Medicare Coverage and AHRQ Effective Health Care Email distribution lists 1 week before the posting of draft reports. Each report will be available for public review on this Web site for a total of 2 weeks.The AHRQ TA Program supports and is committed to the transparency of its review process. Therefore, starting March 18, 2009, invited peer review comments and public review comments will be publicly posted on the TA Program Web site within 3 months after the associated final report is posted on this Web site. The report authors' responses to the comments (the "disposition of comments") will be posted on the same Web page as the associated comments.Technology Assessments Completed2013Technology Assessment on Genetic Testing or Molecular Pathology Testing of Cancers with Unknown Primary Site to Determine OriginFluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) or Other In Situ Hybridization (ISH) Testing of Uterine Cervical Cells to Predict Precancer and CancerSkin Substitutes for Treating Chronic Wounds. Final Report [ - 1.4 MB] Skin Substitutes for Treating Chronic Wounds. Disposition of Final Comments [ - 1.89 MB]2012The Impact of Pre-transplant Red Blood Cell Transfusions in Renal Allograph Rejection Disposition of CommentsManagement of Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis [ - 1.7 MB] Disposition of CommentsMeasuring Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy Disposition of CommentsSystematic Review of Decision Tools and their Suitability for Patient-Centered Decisionmaking regarding Electronic Cardiac DeviceSystematic Review of ECG-based Signal Analysis Technologies for Evaluating Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Disposition of CommentsUpdate on Mapping the Landscape of Genetic Tests for Non-Cancer Diseases/Conditions Disposition of Comments 2011Effectiveness of Cochlear Implants in Adults with Sensorineural Hearing Loss Disposition of CommentsHealth Risk Appraisal Disposition of CommentsLifestyle Interventions for Four Conditions: Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and Metabolic Syndrome Disposition of CommentsOutcomes of Sipuleucel-T Therapy Disposition of CommentsUpdate of Horizon Scans of Genetic Tests Currently Available for Clinical Use in Cancers Disposition of Comments2010Bone Morphogenetic Protein: The State of the Evidence for On-Label and Off-Label Use Disposition of CommentsConsideration of Evidence on Antiemetic Drugs for Nausea and Vomiting Associated with Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy Disposition of CommentsDiagnosis and Treatment of Secondary Lymphedema Disposition of CommentsECG-based Signal Analysis Technologies Disposition of CommentsGenetic Tests for Non-Cancer Diseases/Conditions: A Horizon Scan (Updated) Disposition of CommentsQuality, Regulation and Clinical Utility of Laboratory-developed Molecular Tests (Corrected Final Report) Errata (PDF file, 94 KB) Disposition of CommentsRadiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: An Update Disposition of CommentsReport on the Evidence Regarding Off-Label Indications for Targeted Therapies used in Cancer Treatment Disposition of CommentsA Systematic Review of Loss-of-Heterozygosity Based Topographic Genotyping with PathfinderTG® (PDF file, 400 KB) Disposition of CommentsSystematic Reviews on Selected Pharmacogenetic Tests for Cancer Treatment: CYP2D6 for Tamoxifen in Breast Cancer, KRAS for anti-EGFR antibodies in Colorectal Cancer, and BCR-ABL1 for Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Disposition of Comments2009Cost-Effectiveness of CT Colonography to Screen for ColorectalCancerHorizon Scan: To What Extent Do Changes In Third-Party Payment Affect Clinical Trials And The Evidence Base? (PDF file, 520 KB)Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Devices Disposition of CommentsReviews of Selected Pharmacogenetic Tests for Non-Cancer and Cancer ConditionsUse of Bayesian Techniques in Randomized Clinical Trials: A CMS Case Study Disposition of CommentsWhite Paper: Potential Conflict of Interest in the Production of Drug Compendia* Not available electronically. Contact AHRQTAP@ahrq.hhs.gov for report availability. ** Report is completed, but in the process of being prepared for posting. Please check back for updates.Technology Assessments in ProgressProjects in final production phase (post-review)Assessment on Implantable Defibrillators and the Evidence for Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac DeathSpinal Fusion for the Treatment of Low Back Pain Secondary to Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease (Draft)***Update on Genetic Tests Currently Available for Clinical Use in Common CancersProjects in early-mid production phase (pre-review)Genomic Testing for Detection of Recurrent CancerImpact of Neurological Events upon Cognitive Function following Cardiovascular Procedures*** An updated report is being completed by the Effective Health Care Program and will be available when finished at http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/search-for-guides-reviews-and-reports/?pageaction=displaytopic&topicid=410.Technology Assessment ArchiveTechnology Assessments for 1990-2008These technology assessments were completed at least 4 years ago, and some as many as 20 years ago. These assessments may be outdated due to more recent research findings not included in the assessments and should be viewed cautiously in current medical practice. They are maintained for archival purposes only. Current as of April 2013 Internet Citation: Technology Assessments. April 2013. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/ta/index.html
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