STATE INVOLVEMENT IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY-ASSESSMENT

State governments are reevaluating their role in the assessment of med ical technologies. This paper outlines a range of state technology ass essment activities, highlighting programs in Minnesota, Oregon, and Wa shington, and discusses the issues associated with state government in volvement. Clinically oriented activities on the state level can infor m efforts to contain costs, educate consumers and providers, and facil itate local consensus on the appropriate uses of new and existing tech nologies. Although current programs are still in their infancy and the ir viability remains uncertain, the importance of technology assessmen t is growing as technology continues to fuel increasing costs. The fut ure of state-level technology assessment may lie in collaborative vent ures with other states, the federal government, or private industry.