The November/December 2008 issue of Health Affairs explores the boom in medical technology: diagnostic imaging technologies like CT and MRI, and medical devices like implantable cardiac defibrillators. These technologies offer real and indisputable benefits that have saved the lives of countless patients.

At the same time, the growing use of these technologies and the markets that have grown up around them create cause for concern. How many unnecessary scans have resulted from physicians’ desire to make good on their investments in office-based scanning equipment? Medical devices can prop open arteries and replace damaged joints, but are the prices paid by some purchasers inflated by manufacturers’ requirements for price secrecy? Should Congress legislate greater transparency in device markets?

Leading experts tackled these and other questions during a National Press Club briefing on the Health Affairs November/December thematic issue on medical technology. The issue and briefing were supported by grants from the Blue Shield of California Foundation, Medtronic, and Johnson & Johnson.

At the briefing, potential reforms in the device market were discussed and debated by David Nexon of AdvaMed, Jeffrey Lerner of ECRI Institute, and Hal Singer of the Empiris consulting firm. Laurence Baker of Stanford University discussed whether the increase in diagnostic imaging scans has improved outcomes and whether other types of benefits might justify the increased costs associated with imaging technologies.

Full-length Audiocast
QuickTime Audio (Length: 1h:49; Size: 100.5 MB) Download to iTunes

Full-length Video
Download in Flash (Length: 1h:49; Size: 50K)

Welcome and Introductions
Susan Dentzer, Editor-in-Chief, Health Affairs
Download in QuickTime (Length: 7m:37; Size: 42.6 MB)

Imaging: Weighing Cost and Benefits
Laurence C. Baker, Stanford University
Download in QuickTime (Length: 8m:16; Size: 39.4 MB) PowerPoint slides

Requiring Price Transparency for Medical Devices: A Positive Step
Jeffrey C. Lerner, ECRI Institute
Download in QuickTime (Length: 8m:43; Size: 37.8 MB) PowerPoint slides

Requiring Price Transparency for Medical Devices: A Mistake
Hal J. Singer, Empiris LLC
Download in QuickTime (Length: 10m:51; Size: 45.7 MB) PowerPoint slides

Medical Device Price Transparency: An Industry Perspective
David Nexon, AdvaMed
Download in QuickTime (Length: 9m:01; Size: 32 MB) PowerPoint slides

Moderated Discussion/Questions and Answers
Download in QuickTime (Length: 1m:04; Size: 367.3 MB)