PCORI to meet this week to release national priorities for medical effectiveness research

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, an independent board established by the health law, will meet this week to set priorities for "comparative effectiveness research." In other news related to the health law, the News Hour reports on how the overahul has impacted pediatric cancer patients and the New York Times reports on the law's provisions related to screening kids for obesity and providing them counseling.

Kaiser Health News: New Group To Set Priorities For Medical Effectiveness Research
Congress and the Obama administration are betting more than $3 billion over the next decade that 'comparative effectiveness' research can transform medical care by helping determine the best approach to a particular illness. On Wednesday, an independent, non-governmental board established by the health care law -- called the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) -- will release national priorities for spending that money (Appleby, 1/16).

The New York Times: Learning To Be Lean
As one of the many outgrowths of the sweeping federal health care law, health insurers and employers must now pay the cost of screening children for obesity and providing them with appropriate counseling (Abelson, 1/16).

NewsHour (Video): Health Reform: Changing The Game For Pediatric Cancer Patients?
To be certain, in the eyes of many politicians, academics and regular Americans, the health reform law doesn't look like the right solution to what ails the health care system. And some of those critics who think the Affordable Care Act is too intrusive have their own ideas for protecting America's most vulnerable patients. But to the Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy, the act clearly is going to translate into benefits for Cooper Cochran and his family -- now and in the years to come (Kane, 1/13).

Also, the New York Times reports on new standards regarding drug industry payments to physicians -- a result of the health law.

The New York Times: U.S. To Force Drug Firms To Report Money Paid To Doctors
Many researchers have found evidence that such payments can influence doctors' treatment decisions and contribute to higher costs by encouraging the use of more expensive drugs and medical devices (Pear, 1/16).