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Date: January 19, 1995 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: AHCPR Public Affairs (301) 594-1364 Bob Griffin ext. 169 Paula Zeller ext. 148
AHCPR, a part of HHS' Public Health Service, is charged with supporting research designed to improve the quality of health care, reduce its cost and broaden access to essential services. The agency brings new insights to the daily needs of patients, medical practitioners, and purchasers of care through a broad program of research, clinical guidelines development and technology assessment.
Walter J. McNerney, M.H.A., professor of health policy at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, and currently a council member, was named chair of the advisory panel. His academic accomplishments are complemented by 20 years of practical experience as president of the Blue Cross Association.
Secretary Shalala said membership of the advisory council has been broadened to reflect the sweeping changes now occurring within America's health care system because of market forces and state health reform initiatives.
Assistant Secretary for Health Philip R. Lee, M.D., who is the director of the Public Health Service, said, "Because of the many health benefits programs offered to workers, American business and labor now share a growing interest in assuring that they receive the greatest possible value for their health care dollars. For this reason, the advisory council now includes, for the first time, the health care benefits manager for a Fortune 500 company who can bring the perspective of a major purchaser of health care services to decisions affecting AHCPR programs and policies."
In addition, according to AHCPR Administrator Clifton R. Gaus, Sc.D., "The advisory council reflects the growing importance of managed care by including a physician who is an expert in issues affecting the delivery of services in a managed care setting, a nurse who currently serves as manager of patient care services for a major managed care institution, and a leading academic researcher in the field of managed care."
Other first-time additions to the advisory council include: a consumer representative, a member from a major private health foundation, and a representative of a state health agency with experience in planning and executing health care reforms at the state level.
The new members of the council are:
In addition to the newly appointed council members, Barbara J. McNeil, M.D., Ph.D., head, Department of Health Care Policy and professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass., was reappointed to a second term. Other currently serving members are:
NOTE TO EDITORS: The National Advisory Council for Health Care Policy, Research and Evaluation will meet Monday, Jan. 23, 1995, from 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., and Tuesday, Jan. 24 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at The ANA Hotel, 2401 M St. N.W., Washington, D.C. The meeting is open to the press.