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Detection of Cognitive Impairment: The Search for an Evidence-Based Screening Tool
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Committee, Work group, Advisory group, or Task Force
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AHRQ, CDC, CMS
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NIA, NIMH, NINDS, NINR
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In January 2011, a New Requirement in the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is for an Evidence-Based Screening Tool for the Detection of Cognitive Impairment. This new requirement was included in Public Law 111 - 148, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as an additional element under Sec. 4103: Medicare Coverage of Annual Wellness Visit Providing a Personalized Prevention Plan. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) noted that in their solicitation for public comments before implementing the new regulation, the definition of cognitive impairment in the statute “was vague and commenters suggested adding a standardized screening tool.” The law only stipulates that providers assess an individual’s cognitive function by “direct observation, with due consideration of information obtained by way of patient report, concerns raised by family members, friends, caretakers, or others.” Most providers routinely use these methods during outpatient visits to assess general well-being and function, but are not always effective in specifically detecting cognitive impairment. Other concerns with this subjective method include false positive findings and questionable, expensive neurological workups. CMS and others, therefore, have identified the need for some standardized instrument or set of tools that could be used by providers. Since the annual wellness visit is scheduled for 45 minutes and has other required elements, the tool would need to be short, with no associated cost, easy to administer, sensitive to change over time, and normed for use in the Medicare beneficiary population. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health completed a comprehensive review of over 140 published cognitive screening tools to determine the level of evidence to support an instrument or set of instruments that could be used by providers. The review included the critical components identified by CMS as well as other psychometric properties. On October 31, 2011, NIA presented its findings to a large group of researchers, providers, federal policy staff, and other stakeholders for evaluation. Based on the questions raised and input provided by this group, NIA is continuing to add to the information on each tool and will provide additional information as it becomes available.
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Development of Chemical Emergency Medical Management Website
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Committee, Work group, Advisory group, or Task Force
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OS
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NICHD, NEI, NIA, NIDA
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This website is being developed under the auspices of the National Library of Medicine SIS Division. Additional funding is provided by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (HHS). NICHD staff is detailed to assist the NLM in its development with primary responsibility for the creation of the medical management guidelines component.
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Development of In-Vitro Assays to Assess the Potency of Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A
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Research Initiative
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FDA
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NINDS, NIAID
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This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant applications from small business concerns (SBCs) that propose to develop new non-animal-based assays to assess the potency of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) in a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) commercial environment. (STTR [R41/R42]) [PA-09-178], (SBIR [R43/R44]) [PA-09-179]
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Development of Quality Measures for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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Other
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OS
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NIMH
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The purpose of the ASPE-NIMH project is to develop a set of at least four validated quality measures for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These measures will specifically focus on ambulatory care provided to adult PTSD clients and paid for by state Medicaid programs. Since HHS will submit the measures to the National Quality Forum (NQF) for their endorsement, the measures will be in full compliance with the NQF measure evaluation criteria. Y1-MH-1319
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DHHS Behavioral Health Coordinating Committee Pharmaceutical Abuse Subcommittee Surveillance Report Team
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Committee, Work group, Advisory group, or Task Force
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CDC, FDA, OS, SAMHSA
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NIDA
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DHHS Behavioral Health Coordinating Committee formed a Pharmaceutical Abuse Subcommittee in 2010. In March 2011, the subcommittee established a surveillance team with representatives from participating agencies to develop and update a report about the main sources of data including measures of the availability of treatment services, to identify challenges with the databases and to develop strategic plans for improving the databases.
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DHHS Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention Council
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Public Education Campaign
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ACF, AHRQ, CDC, CMS, FDA, HRSA, IHS, OS, OSG
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NIDDK
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This coordinating committee works with community stakeholders to develop and foster programs that share the goal of providing options for community-based interventions.
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DHHS Health Care Personnel Influenza Vaccination Task Force
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Committee, Work group, Advisory group, or Task Force
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OS
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CC
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This committee is charged with developing strategies to improve the fraction of healthcare professionals who are vaccinated with the influenza vaccine.
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DHHS Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC)
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Committee, Work group, Advisory group, or Task Force
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OS
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CC
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This committee serves as the major policy advisory committee in the nation for healthcare epidemiology.
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DHHS Steering Committee for the Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections
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Committee, Work group, Advisory group, or Task Force
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OS
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CC
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This committee is charged with developing a national action plan for addressing the important problem of healthcare-associated infections.
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DHHS Women''s Health and the Environment Interagency Committee
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Committee, Work group, Advisory group, or Task Force
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ATSDR, CDC, FDA, HRSA, IHS, OS
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NIEHS, NCI, NICHD, OD
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There is abundant evidence that environmental factors may contribute to a variety of diseases in women, including breast and ovarian cancers, osteoporosis, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and autoimmune diseases. Many Federal agencies and offices are working to address these environmental and often preventable threats to women''s health. The DHHS Office on Women''s Health established the Federal Interagency Working Group on Women''s Health and the Environment (FIWGWHE) in 1994 to coordinate and focus Federal action in this area.
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