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March 1977 (Volume 55)
Quarterly Article
John K. Iglehart
Sep 14, 2026
Sep 9, 2026
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One of the key elements of the medical care cost spiral is the proliferation of high-cost medical technologies. At their life-saving extreme, there are no services society values more; at their cost-generating extreme, governmental concern looms large. Three laws are already on the books that will affect the development and diffusion of technology through direct regulation. Formal-and revealingly informal-policy processes are creating further mechanisms by which government will assess current medical treatment practices, procedures, and technologies. These assessments are likely to be used in deciding which services will be paid for under Medicare, Medicaid and, eventually, national health insurance.
Author(s): John K. Iglehart
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Volume 55, Issue 1 (pages 25–59) Published in 1977