The role of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) in improving outcomes of care.

This article describes the various outcomes programs supported by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). The mission of the agency is to generate and disseminate information that improves the delivery and quality of health care. The agency is charged with helping consumers, providers, purchasers, health plans, and policy makers meet the challenge of improving the quality of health care services while reducing spending. AHCPR has been recognized as funding the development of "gold standard" clinical practice guidelines and the source of unbiased, science-based information on what works and does not work in health care.