Health Aff (Millwood). 2001 Sep-Oct;20(5):11-29.

Is technological change in medicine worth it?

Source

Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Abstract

Medical technology is valuable if the benefits of medical advances exceed the costs. We analyze technological change in five conditions to determine if this is so. In four of the conditions--heart attacks, low-birthweight infants, depression, and cataracts--the estimated benefit of technological change is much greater than the cost. In the fifth condition, breast cancer, costs and benefits are about of equal magnitude. We conclude that medical spending as a whole is worth the increased cost of care. This has many implications for public policy.

Comment in

Paying for medical breakthroughs. [Health Aff (Millwood). 2001]
Paying for medical breakthroughs.Galvin R. Health Aff (Millwood). 2001 Nov-Dec; 20(6):307-8.
Useful lessons for policymakers. [Health Aff (Millwood). 2001]
Useful lessons for policymakers.Grabowski H. Health Aff (Millwood). 2001 Nov-Dec; 20(6):306-7.
Medical technology's impacts and costs. [Health Aff (Millwood). 2002]
Medical technology's impacts and costs.Christian J, Weissberg J. Health Aff (Millwood). 2002 Jan-Feb; 21(1):276-7.
The economic value of medical technology. [Health Aff (Millwood). 2002]
The economic value of medical technology.Gandjour A. Health Aff (Millwood). 2002 Jan-Feb; 21(1):275-6.
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The uninsured and the benefits of medical progress.Glied S, Little SE. Health Aff (Millwood). 2003 Jul-Aug; 22(4):210-9.

PMID:: 11558696; [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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