which federal agency is the primary u.s. organization supporting health technology assessment?

The primary U.S. organization supporting health technology assessment (HTA) is the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). AHRQ is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that is dedicated to improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare.

AHRQ plays a significant role in supporting and conducting HTA to inform healthcare decisions, policies, and practices. The agency funds research and evidence synthesis projects that assess the clinical effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of various healthcare interventions, technologies, and services. AHRQ's HTA program aims to provide evidence-based information to healthcare providers, policymakers, payers, and patients to help guide their decision-making.

AHRQ's HTA program focuses on evaluating the comparative effectiveness of healthcare interventions, assessing the value and impact of health technologies, and promoting the translation of evidence into practice. The agency collaborates with researchers, clinicians, industry stakeholders, and other federal agencies to generate and disseminate HTA findings.

The HTA reports and resources produced by AHRQ cover a wide range of topics, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, surgical procedures, diagnostic tests, and healthcare delivery models. These assessments help stakeholders make informed decisions regarding the adoption, coverage, and reimbursement of health technologies.

In addition to AHRQ, other federal agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), also play roles in health technology assessment within their respective areas of jurisdiction. However, AHRQ is specifically dedicated to supporting HTA as its primary focus, making it a key organization in the U.S. healthcare landscape for evidence-based evaluation of health technologies.

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