PATIENT-CENTERED OUTCOMES RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PCORI)
Back to GlossaryDefinition
A fee that funds clinical effectiveness research; certain group health plans must pay it annually.
Summary
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is a federal agency established by the Affordable Care Act that conducts comparative effectiveness research to help patients and healthcare providers make better-informed treatment decisions. While PCORI itself is the research institute, there is an associated PCORI fee that certain health plans and insurance issuers must pay annually to fund this research. This fee supports studies that compare different medical treatments, procedures, and interventions to determine which work best for specific patient populations.
Usage Context
Understanding PCORI is important when studying healthcare financing, the Affordable Care Act's provisions, health plan compliance requirements, and evidence-based healthcare policy. It's particularly relevant in discussions about healthcare quality improvement and research funding mechanisms.
Common Confusions
- Confusing PCORI (the institute) with the PCORI fee (the funding mechanism)
- Thinking the fee applies to all health plans rather than specific qualifying plans
- Assuming PCORI conducts drug approval research like the FDA
- Believing patients pay the PCORI fee directly rather than health plans paying it
