Research Guides: Clinical Studies Resources: Use the Web

Professional Associations

The following associations provide resources for accreditation, advocacy, performance improvement, planning, and research:

Affordable Care Act Resources

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
The agency that administers Medicare and the federal part of Medicaid. Unfortunately, the site is incredibly hard to navigate, and there is no well defined area that deals with PPACA overall (specific sites appear below). The most efficient way to search the site is generally to do a site: search in Google; e.g.: "affordable care act" AND Medicaid site:cms.gov

Innovation Center at CMS
This Center was established under PPACA to “test innovative payment and service delivery models to reduce program expenditures, while preserving or enhancing the quality of care” for Medicare, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries.

CMS: Affordable Care Act [and HIPAA]
CMS page on the parts of PPACA related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)

The Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO)
The agency within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which "oversees the implementation of the provisions related to private health insurance."

Hospital Quality Initiatives -- Overview
The CMS page on the the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program, which will take effect in FY 2013 for hospital discharges that occur on or after October 1, 2012.

More Government Resources:
- HealthCare.gov
  The federal government's page on health care reform for consumers
- Implementation Center at HealthCare.gov
  Includes links to implementing regulations, letters from administration officials, and other materials related to the implementation of PPACA
- National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics
  Tasked with advising HHS on certain aspects of information policy and standards under PPACA
- Deaprtment of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
  The Department of Labor's page on PPACA implementation, including guidance and FAQs
- EBSA's page on Regulations
  Includes links to guidance and public comments on EBSA regulations, including PPACA-related rules.
- Administration on Aging: Affordable Care Act: Opportunities for the Aging Network
  Includes a webinar series on the Community-based Care Transition Program and a 50-state map of 2010 state grant awards under PPACA
- Health Reform.gov
  Archived version of the federal government site that was live during the development of health care reform.
- White House page on PPACA
--recommended by Stonehill College, MacPhaidin Library, Jane Swiszcz

Government Agencies

Internet Sources on Healthcare Administration

AHRQ Patient Safety Network
ClinicalTrials.gov
Public current information about clinical research studies developed by the U.S. National Institutes of Health
disABILITY Information & Resources
Access point to many disability related organizations
Federal Drug Administration
The FDA site contains a great deal of useful data including drug labeling information, new drug approvals, and the online version of the Orange Book which lists therapeutic equivalents (generic drugs than can replace a brand-name drug)
Hospital Compare
This tool, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Medicare, allows users to find information on how well hosptials care for patients dealing with certain medical conditions or undergoing certain medical procedures.
Hospital Connect Search (AHA)
Hospital Management
Institute for Healthcare Advancement
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
Leapfrog Group
The Leapfrog Group's hospital comparison tool allows you to compare overall patient safety ratings and the safety of specified procedures at health care facilities. The tool allows you to search for individual facilities or by city or region.
Medicare Physician Compare
Medicare's Physician Compare search engine allows users to access information about Medicare-enrolled Physicians and Healthcare Professionals.
Medscape
A Web portal for healthcare professionals
NCI's CancerNet Center Information
Nursing Home Compare
this tool, provided the U.S. Department Of Health and Human Services' Medicare division, offers detailed information about every Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country
RxList
The Internet Drug Index
Social Security Administration Home Page
Toolbox for Health Managers & Administrators
Pam Pohly's Net Guide. (Works best with Internet Explorer)

Cultural Pluralism & Diversity

The following websites address healthcare to diverse populations:

https://www.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/Content/about_tch.asp

http://ethnomed.org/

http://www.hrsa.gov/culturalcompetence/index.html