Improving MS Care
Multiple Sclerosis can have profound effects beyond physical problems. MS can also affect family life, career, standard of living and quality of life. MS also creates special concerns related to health care: Do individuals with MS have access to quality health care and adequate health insurance? Can people with MS access appropriate medical specialists? Investigators funded through the National MS Society’s Health Care Delivery and Policy Research Program study such issues and provide data that can serve as the basis for influencing public policy and offering people with MS and their families practical ways for improving the quality of their care and of their lives.
With the help of its volunteer Health Care Delivery and Policy Research Advisory Committee, the Society establishes priority areas each year and releases a request for proposals which is widely distributed to investigators in the field. The projects listed below were competitively selected from such proposals.
The priority areas established for 2008 focus on:
- Comprehensive analysis of the direct and indirect costs of MS
- Comprehensive survey and analysis of long-term care services, including home-based services, in MS
- Abuse of persons with MS by caregivers
In addition, the Society has opened up its HCDPR program to accept investigator-initiated health policy studies in MS on any pertinent topic.
Summaries of Current Health Care Delivery and Policy Research Projects
Robert J. Buchanan, PhD
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS
Health Care Delivery & Policy Research Contract
8/16/05 to 6/30/08; $117,259
“The long-term care needs of people with multiple sclerosis” Exploring the long-term care needs of people with MS and the services they receive in care facilities.
Barbara J. Gage, PhD
Division of Health Economics Research
RTI International
Waltham, MA
7/1/06 to 6/30/08; $220,840
“Comprehensive evaluation of rehabilitation services in multiple sclerosis” Exploring the use of rehabilitation among people with MS, and the barriers that may prevent this need from being met.
Lisa I. Iezzoni, MD, MSc
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA
10/1/06 to 6/30/08; $329,739
“Mobility aids for persons with multiple sclerosis” Exploring why more people with MS do not use mobility aids, for clues to fulfilling this unmet need.
Katia Noyes, PhD, MPH
University of Rochester
Rochester, NY
7/1/05 to 6/30/08; $484,543
“Cost-effectiveness of treatments in multiple sclerosis (COSTRIMS)” Seeking to identify the most appropriate methodology for assessing the cost-effectiveness and consequences of MS treatments.
Carol Simon, PhD
Abt Associates Inc.
Cambridge, MA
Term/Amount: 7/1/07-6/30/09; $384,233
“Financial modeling of multiple sclerosis medical care” Analyzing how the costs and financing of MS health care influences the quality of that care and the ability of people to access care.
Michael G. Trisolini, MBA, PhD
Division of Health Economics Research
RTI International
Waltham, MA
Health Care Delivery & Policy Contract
7/1/04 to 6/30/08; $466,148
“Comprehensive evaluation of multiple sclerosis adult day programs” Defining the impact of MS adult day programs in terms of quality of life, costs, health and functional status, and identifying optimal practices and funding sources.
Barbara Vickrey, MD, MPH
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Los Angeles, CA
7/1/07-6/30/10; $487,570
“Development of indicators for multiple sclerosis” Defining what constitutes quality MS health care and how to measure it to establish better standards of medical care for people with MS.