Observations on health services research and health policy analysis

The importance of mutual communication between researchers and policy makers cannot be overestimated. Although economists are presumed to have an advantage, more interdisciplinary health services research is needed. The case for government support of research and use of its findings is not based solely on government spending for health care. The interests of the federal programs are not well served by a declining access to data or by ambiguous distinctions between research and policy analysis.