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Medical and dental technology assessment
1Aetna Health Plans, San Diego, CA 92108-4512, USA.
Summary
To ensure affordable quality healthcare, medical products and services require demonstrated safety and effectiveness, validated through randomized controlled trials. Collaboration and data sharing among insurers and government agencies are crucial for effective technology assessment.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Medical Technology Assessment
- Health Economics
Background:
- Rising healthcare expenditures necessitate stringent evaluation of medical products and services for safety and effectiveness.
- Scientifically rigorous methods, particularly randomized controlled trials, are fundamental to technology assessment.
- Governmental regulatory procedures form the bedrock of technology assessment and should remain robust.
Observation:
- Healthcare providers can contribute to objective research and technology assessment.
- Technology manufacturers must actively support unbiased analysis of their products.
- Healthcare insurers are increasingly engaged in outcomes research and technology assessment.
Findings:
- A major insurer's approach to technology assessment and outcomes research is detailed.
- Consolidated research efforts require data sharing between private insurers and governmental agencies.
- Insurance company databases represent valuable public health assets requiring further utilization.
Implications:
- Standardizing insurance databases is essential for compatible and comparable inter-agency analysis.
- Enhanced data sharing can lead to more comprehensive technology assessments.
- Optimizing the use of insurance data can improve public health surveillance and research efforts.