AHCPR study of dietary supplement cost-effectiveness recommended by NNFA.
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
DIETARY SUPPLEMENT COST-EFFECTIVENESS DISEASE TREATMENT STUDY conducted by the Agency for Health Care Policy & Research is recommended by the National Nutritional Foods Association in written testimony submitted to the House Appropriations Labor/HHS Subcommittee Feb. 5. Stating that AHCPR is "often directed by the committee to pursue projects designed to research the cost-effectiveness attendant to novel approaches to the treatment and/or prevention of illness," the group suggests the "time is right for investigation of the worthiness of certain dietary supplements, based on well-designed cost-effectiveness research."
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DIETARY SUPPLEMENT COST-EFFECTIVENESS DISEASE TREATMENT STUDY conducted by the Agency for Health Care Policy & Research is recommended by the National Nutritional Foods Association in written testimony submitted to the House Appropriations Labor/HHS Subcommittee Feb. 5. Stating that AHCPR is "often directed by the committee to pursue projects designed to research the cost-effectiveness attendant to novel approaches to the treatment and/or prevention of illness," the group suggests the "time is right for investigation of the worthiness of certain dietary supplements, based on well-designed cost-effectiveness research." NNFA "urges the committee to consider directing AHCPR to work with the Office of Dietary Supplements and the Office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine to review the existing outcome research on dietary supplements." AHCPR could "investigate the feasibility, under appropriate protocols, of developing cost-effectiveness projects designed to compare the value of herbs and other dietary supplements" to "typical medical approaches" in the treatment and prevention of chronic illness, the association maintains. "Once the necessary biomedical and cost-effectiveness research have been completed," NNFA recommends the Health Care Financing Administration "investigate the potential reimbursement for promising alternative therapies and treatments involving nutritional supplements and herbs." The dietary supplement manufacturers trade group "believes that a sufficient body of botanical and nutrient research may exist in certain instances to whet AHCPR's appetite and to warrant congressional consideration of cost-effectiveness studies in this area." For example, studies have shown echinacea and goldenseal to be "effective in preventing and treating colds and flus," and ginkgo "has been shown to forestall dementia and the onset of Alzheimer's disease," NNFA notes. Herbal combinations "have been shown to provide control for hypertension without the side effects which cause many patients to stop using their prescription medicine; similarly, saw palmetto effectively shrinks benign prostate enlargement without side effects affecting normal body function," the association adds. NNFA also notes its support for the President's Commission on Dietary Supplements Labels' recommendation that the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements be funded at the $5 mil. level authorized by the Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act ("The Tan Sheet" Dec. 1, 1997, pp. 1-4). The office is funded at about $1 mil., with two full-time employees. In addition, the group endorses Rep. Peter Defazio's (D-Ore.) National Center for Integral Medicine Establishment Act (HR 1055), which would elevate the Office of Alternative Medicine to a center within NIH. NNFA "not only supports increased funding for [OAM], but feels it is critical that this office be granted increased authority to initiate research projects and develop its own peer review panels." Defazio's bill was introduced March 13, 1996 and referred to the House Commerce Committee and its Health and Environment Subcommittee ("The Tan Sheet" Feb. 17, 1997, p. 15). No further action has been taken. |