Providers do not generally understand comparative effectiveness research, even though it is required under a new healthcare law. So claims a new report from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. Some manufacturers fear that innovation may suffer due to CER, as returns on research and development investments will be less certain. International experience, however, indicates that a predictable CER process and decision-making algorithm actually could encourage innovation by allowing vendors to see what product features are valued and rewarded, the authors assert.