Electronics in medicine: A mixed blessing: Technology does lots more, but at a price

According to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, health-care costs in the United States will rise 40 percent by 1980 — to $224 billion a year. A Congressionally enacted national health insurance program could raise this figure by an additional $9.8—$24.8 billion, depending upon which program under consideration is adopted. Medical technologies are contributing to these rising costs in several ways. For example, some technologies require large capital investments; others necessitate costly supporting services; and still others dictate expensive follow-up care. In fact, it has been estimated that 50 percent of the increase in costs of hospital care from 1965 to 1974 was due directly or indirectly to medical technology.