Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/763

 124 STAT. 737 PUBLIC LAW 111–148—MAR. 23, 2010 innovation and the health care economy of the United States. ‘‘(v) Not later than 8 years after the date of enact- ment of this section, the adequacy and use of the funding for the Institute and the activities conducted under section 937 of the Public Health Service Act, including a determination as to whether, based on the utilization of research findings by public and pri- vate payers, funding sources for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund under section 9511 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are appropriate and whether such sources of funding should be contin- ued or adjusted. ‘‘(B) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than April 1 of each year, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the review conducted under subparagraph (A) with respect to the preceding year (or years, if applicable), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate. ‘‘(h) ENSURING TRANSPARENCY, CREDIBILITY, AND ACCESS.—The Institute shall establish procedures to ensure that the following requirements for ensuring transparency, credibility, and access are met: ‘‘(1) PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS.—The Institute shall provide for a public comment period of not less than 45 days and not more than 60 days prior to the adoption under subsection (d)(9) of the national priorities identified under subsection (d)(1)(A), the research project agenda established under sub- section (d)(1)(B), the methodological standards developed and updated by the methodology committee under subsection (d)(6)(C)(i), and the peer-review process provided under para- graph (7), and after the release of draft findings with respect to systematic reviews of existing research and evidence. ‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL FORUMS.—The Institute shall support forums to increase public awareness and obtain and incorporate public input and feedback through media (such as an Internet website) on research priorities, research findings, and other duties, activities, or processes the Institute determines appro- priate. ‘‘(3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Institute shall make avail- able to the public and disclose through the official public Inter- net website of the Institute the following: ‘‘(A) Information contained in research findings as specified in subsection (d)(9). ‘‘(B) The process and methods for the conduct of research, including the identity of the entity and the inves- tigators conducing such research and any conflicts of interests of such parties, any direct or indirect links the entity has to industry, and research protocols, including measures taken, methods of research and analysis, research results, and such other information the Institute deter- mines appropriate) concurrent with the release of research findings. ‘‘(C) Notice of public comment periods under paragraph (1), including deadlines for public comments. Notice. Web posting. Procedures. Recommenda- tions.