[3] It was established largely through the efforts of members of the NIH Division of Research Grants Health Services Study Section.

[4] The new center quickly absorbed the PHS Division of Chronic Diseases,[4][5] which dated back to 1949,[6] in order to access the latter's larger budget.

The FY 2015 budget is intended to ensure the Agency continues its progress on health services research to improve outcomes, affordability, and quality.

The budget also supports the collection of information on health care spending and use through the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).

[19] Within CEPI, the Evidence-Based Practice Centers[20] (EPCs) develop evidence reports and technology assessments on topics relevant to clinical and other health care organization and delivery issues—specifically those that are common, expensive, and/or significant for the Medicare and Medicaid populations.

With this program, AHRQ serves as a "science partner" with private and public organizations in their efforts to improve the quality, effectiveness, and appropriateness of health care by synthesizing the evidence and facilitating the translation of evidence-based research findings.

Topics are nominated by Federal and non-Federal partners such as professional societies, health plans, insurers, employers, and patient groups.