title: Medical innovation duels cost containment.
abstract: The nation's commitment to health cost control will potentially conflict with its deeper commitment to innovation in medical technology--drugs, medical devices, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and administrative infrastructure. Medical technology is implicated in increasing health care costs because, on a net basis, it increases the capabilities of medicine. Conceptual, methodological, institutional, and political factors limit the ability to address the potential conflict; these limits must be confronted and addressed if we are to formulate sound policy responses.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rettig
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011057:Politics; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States