PCORI Reauthorization Funds Program Through 2029
Patient-centered research is vital in the effort to move the needle in cancer care, and nurse researchers rely on funding from organizations like the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to support new and ongoing studies. In December 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Further Consolidation Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 1865) (https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1865), extending funding for PCORI through fiscal year 2029.
As an independent organization created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, PCORI’s mission is to advance research and help patients become involved in the provision of care. By understanding ways to incorporate patient values, preferences, and circumstances, PCORI-funded researchers are developing ways for patients to consult with their providers during the care trajectory. With the funding extension, PCORI will also focus on novel ways to implement useful research findings into practice at a greater rate.
“I am pleased that Congress responded to the strong support of 200 plus stakeholder organizations for a long-term reauthorization of PCORI’s patient-centered mission,” Tony Coelho, co-chair of Friends of PCORI Reauthorization and chair of the Partnership to Improve Patient Care said in a statement (https://reauthorizepcori.org/friends-of-pcori-reauthorization-coalition-commends-congress-for-extending-funding-for-patient-centered-outcomes-research-institute/). “The next 10 years of PCORI is an opportunity to drive an efficient and informed health system that is truly patient-centered and responsive to the individual characteristics, needs, and priorities of patients and people with disabilities.”
Through the 10-year extension of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund, along with grants for research funding and operational support, PCORI’s reauthorization signals a commitment to patient-centered health care at a national level. As part of the funding, PCORI is also required to focus research (https://www.aamc.org/advocacy-policy/washington-highlights/congress-passes-pcori-renewal-dsh-delay-extenders-and-tax-policies) on maternal mortality, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the burden and economic impact of medical treatments and services on patients.
Coalition support and an active research advocacy community helped move the bill through Congress and champion its success. Nurses and nurse researchers have been a central component to the conversation, sharing patient experiences, research, and clinical expertise with elected officials (https://voice.ons.org/stories/advocacy-grows-through-personality-as-well-as-profession) to help them understand the importance of funding and support for programs like PCORI.