Review Of The Technology Assessment Act

Technology assessment -- Legislative history of proposals for an office of technology assessment -- The technology assessment movement -- The technology assessment act of 1972 (P.L. 92-484) -- Operational concepts for implementing technology assessment -- On methodology for TA.

Appendices (p. 119-211) include analysis of responses to subcom staff survey on congressional use of OTA technology assessments (p. 121-176), and selected bibliography (p. 188-204).

New drugs, new devices, improved surgical techniques, and innovative diagnostic procedures and equipment emerge rapidly. But development of these technologies has outpaced evaluation of their safety, efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and ethical and social consequences. This volume, which is "strongly recommended" by The New England Journal of Medicine "to all those interested in the future of the practice of medicine," examines how new discoveries can be translated into better care, and how the current system's inefficiencies prevent effective health care delivery. In addition, the book offers detailed profiles of 20 organizations currently involved in medical technology assessment, and proposes ways to organize U.S. efforts and create a coordinated national system for evaluating new medical treatments and technology.