Head of Washington state program named to federal board on health care quality

For Immediate Release: September 23, 2010

OLYMPIA� Washington state has long been recognized as a leader in state efforts to improve health care. Further evidence of that leadership came today as a Washington program director was the only state government appointment to the board of governors for the new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Leah Hole-Curry, director of the Health Technology Assessment program for the Washington State Health Care Authority, was one of 19 members named to the PCORI Board.

�Leah�s appointment highlights the tremendous progress our state has made in leading the national dialogue on evidence-based medicine,� Gov. Chris Gregoire said. �Working collaboratively over the years with the Legislature, health care purchasers, providers and consumers, we have laid a foundation upon which national efforts to provide high-quality, affordable care can be built.�

Gene L. Dodaro, acting comptroller general of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, announced the board of governors� appointments today.

�The research to be developed by PCORI has the potential to improve the quality of health care for people across the nation,� Dodaro said. �This outstanding group of individuals brings an impressive range of knowledge, expertise and professional experience to this important initiative.�

Hole-Curry heads the first state program in the nation to use independent, clinical evidence to ensure that state-funded medical treatments and services are safe and proven to work. The program was recently selected as a Council of State Governments Innovations Award winner.

She also leads several public-private partnerships that develop tools for doctors and patients to determine the best approach when multiple treatments are available.

�Early in her first term, Governor Gregoire established the use of evidence-based medicine as a cornerstone of her work to improve health care for Washington residents,� Hole-Curry said. �I thank her for the vote of confidence in submitting my name for nomination. I believe my appointment is a testament to her leadership, and Washington�s leadership, in launching outstanding and much-needed health care initiatives.�

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 established PCORI as a nonprofit organization to assist patients, clinicians, purchasers and policymakers in making informed health decisions by carrying out research projects that provide high-quality, relevant evidence on how diseases, disorders and other health conditions can be effectively and appropriately prevented, diagnosed, treated, monitored and managed.