Inside E Street

Guests

Kent Conrad

Sen. Kent Conrad

(D–N.D.)

Serving in the U.S. Senate since 1986, Conrad was ranked by Time as one of “America’s Ten-Best Senators” and by The American magazine to be one of the “10 Most Economically Literate Members of Congress.” He is Chairman of the Budget Committee and promotes policies to hold down the rising cost of health care.

John Rother

John Rother

AARP

As the group executive officer of policy and strategy at AARP, Rother directs AARP’s legislative agenda. An authority on Medicare, managed care, long-term care, and other issues, he regularly testifies at congressional hearings. 

Stephen Ubl

Stephen Ubl

President and CEO, AdvaMed

The CEO of the world’s largest advanced-
medical-technology association, Ubl is a health advocate and policy expert. Leading political publications recognize him as a top association lobbyist.

ceci connolly

Ceci Connolly

The Washington Post

Since 1997, Ceci Connolly has been a national staff writer at The Washington Post, where she covers health care. She graduated from Boston College and the Poynter Institute for Media Studies.

Resources

  • AARP is strongly in favor of comparative-effectiveness research. Read about our position here.
  • The Partnership to Improve Patient Care supports effectiveness research if the focus is on quality, not on cost. Read more here.

Additional Links

  • Designated an Evidence-Based Practice Center by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, ECRI has published health research for 40 years.

'Inside E Street' Archives

Health Care: Choice or Chance?

Tucked into the 2009 stimulus bill was funding for research into how well medical treatments work. It's called “comparative-effectiveness research,” and it ignited a hot debate: Proponents say the research means we'll be healthier and save billions of dollars. Opponents say it actually rations health care. We talk to U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad and others about whether treatment is effective by choice or by chance.

segments

Two medical technicians at work

Symptom of Political Gridlock

We look at how health care is delivered, to discover why outcomes and costs vary so widely. And Sen. Kent Conrad joins us live from Capitol Hill to discuss comparative-effectiveness research, why it’s controversial, and how it will affect health care reform.

Stephen Ubl and John Rother join Sheila Kast

Research for All?

Stephen Ubl of AdvaMed and John Rother of AARP discuss the pros and cons of comparative effectiveness research.

Stephen Ubl and John Rother

Rationed Healthcare?

Ubl and Rother return to discuss whether or not effectiveness research will lead to rationed care.

Ceci Connolly joins Sheila Kast

Research at Work

Ceci Connolly of The Washington Post talks about past results of effectiveness research and what role it will play in the future.

Sheila

The Host

Through most of her distinguished reporting career, Sheilah Kast has focused on the economy and workplace and how they affect people's lives. Well known to viewers of public television, ABC News, and CNN, she has covered the White House and Congress.

Kast also reported on the Washington aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Her stories included an investigation of anthrax in the mails and the struggles of bereaved Pentagon families to secure benefits.

At The Washington Star, in her first reporting job, Kast covered financial regulation, taxes, and energy. Her expertise in these important issues eventually led her to start a national public-television show, "This Week in Business," which she hosted in association with Business Week magazine.

Ms. Kast is a skilled interviewer. She has often hosted NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday and has her own current-affairs interview show on public radio in Maryland.

Contact Us

Inside E Street - AARP
Techworld Station
P.O. Box 50239
Washington, D.C. 20091-9998
E-mail: estreet@aarp.org

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