Top technology trends for payers

Health insurers will be keeping close watch on genetic testing and electronic medical records in 2010, according to the first of a planned annual series of reports from research organization ECRI Institute. Rounding out the top seven technology trends that payers should pay attention to in the new year are: Premium CT and ultra-high-field MRI; radiation oncology; robot-assisted surgery; orthopedic physician preferences; and therapeutic hypothermia. The Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based group also reports receiving many questions from health plans about comparative effectiveness research and evidence-based medicine. Article