Posting date: June 23, 2005

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Health Affairs, 10.1377/hlthaff.w5.296
Copyright © 2005 by Project HOPE

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Grasping The Role Of Technology: A Conversation With Ron Dollens

¹ John Iglehart is the founding editor of Health Affairs. Ronald Dollens is chief executive officer of the Guidant Corporation.

^*Corresponding author.

Abstract

In an interview with Health Affairs founding editor John Iglehart, Ron Dollens outlines the differences between drug and device companies in the current U.S. health care marketplace. He discusses at length the recent Medicare coverage decision regarding implantable cardiac defibrillators, one of his company's major innovations. He sees a growing trend for cost-effectiveness to be considered along with a device's safety and efficacy, and he finds this to be appropriate in an environment characterized by constrained resources. He believes that the United States must find a solution to the problem of uninsurance, if our health care system is to remain competitive in a global economy.

Key Words: Access To Care, Business Of Health, Consumer Issues, Health Reform, Insurance - Employer-Based System, Legal/Regulatory Issues, Managed Competition, Medicare, Quality Of Care, Research And Technology, Health Spending

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