Is Technological Change In Medicine Worth It?

摘要: When costs and benefits are weighed together, technological advances have proved to be worth far more than their costs. by David M. Cutler Mark McClellan ABSTRACT: Medical technology is valuable if the of medical exceed We analyze change in five conditions deter- mine this so. In four conditions—heart attacks, low-birthweight infants, depression, cataracts—the estimated benefit much greater cost. fifth condition, breast cancer, about equal magnitude. conclude that spending as a whole increased cost care. This has many implications for public policy. I t widely accepted ac- counted bulk care increases over time. But it does not necessarily follow there- fore bad. Presumably, brings addi- tion costs—increased longevity, improved quality life, less time absent from work, so on. These need compared with before welfare statements can made. Technological bad only benefits. aggregate, health in- creased. Given then prevailing age, average newborn 1950 could expect spend $8,000 present value on his or her lifetime. The comparable amount 1990 $45,000. An infant born had life expectancy was seven years one 1950, lower lifetime disability well. 1 how improvement result care? Is component it? questions capture perhaps most critical issue economic