IN THE PIPELINE - A WAVE OF VALUABLE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Technologic change has proceeded at a rapid pace during the past twent y years, and advances that are even more remarkable in sight over the next decade. These changes will be driven largely by advances in molec ular and cell biology, imaging techniques, and tissue engineering. The rapies directed toward causes rather than consequences of disease coul d conceivably produce inexpensive cures and thus slow the rise in medi cal costs. A more likely scenario envisions a continued rise in costs as advances in technology produce many expensive interventions that ex tend life but are not curative.