The Determinants of Technological Change in Heart Attack Treatment

Abstract

This paper examines the sources of expenditure growth in heart attack treatment.We first show that essentially all of cost growth is a result of the diffision of particular intensive technologies; the prices paid for a given level of technology have been constant or falling over time.We then examine the reasons for this technology diffision.We distinguish six factors that may influence technology diffision: organizational factors within hospitals; the insurance environment in which technology is reimbursed; public policy regulating new technology; malpractice concerns; competitive or cooperative interactions among providers; and demographic composition.We conclude that insurance variables, technology regulation, and provider interactions have the largest quantitative effect on technological difision.These factors affect both technology acquisition and the frequency of technology use.

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