Antitrust Implications of Medical Technology Assessment

As the pressure to control health care costs has grown, third-party payers and others have increasingly undertaken to assess the merits of procedures and equipment used in patient care.

Abstract

AS the pressure to control health care costs has grown, third-party payers and others have increasingly undertaken to assess the merits of procedures and equipment used in patient care. Interest in such assessment is strong in both the public and private sectors and shows no signs of waning.1 2 3 In assessing medical technology, organizations typically consult medical experts or medical specialty societies. Some assessments, especially those by payers or influential professional organizations, can have profound implications in the marketplace. An assessment that is unfavorable or inconclusive may substantially reduce the sale or use of a medical device or procedure or may . . .