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"Amitabh Chandra, professor of public policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, argues in a new video that investments in new medical technology should be done in a cost-effective manner.\nThe video \u2014 part of a collaboration between Harvard and New York City nonprofit 92Y \u2014 tackles how to approach the costs that come with new medical tech. \nFor example, Chandra points to Proton Beam Therapy as an example of how cost might outweigh benefit. Beam therapy is a new high-tech method for treating men's prostate cancer, but Chandra argues that it hasn't been proven any more useful than other, less expensive forms of treatment.\n\"This technology, just to set it up, costs $150 million \u2014 and this is before the first patient is treated,\" said Chandra. \"And we have absolutely no idea if this technology is superior in any way to conventional radiation therapy. And yet, we reimburse for this technology in the Medicare program, diverting a larger and larger share of tax revenues to the health program.\"\nChandra notes that taxpayer money used to fund these new technologies must be diverted from other public programs, such as education. \"When we spend on shiny new medical therapies with dubious medical benefits, we are diverting money out of schools to pay for health care,\" he said.\nChandra also detailed insuring the uninsured and aligning quality and cost as other measures to improve health care in the U.S.\n\nSEE ALSO: Doctors Believe Using Health Apps Will Cut Down on Visits [INFOGRAPHIC]\nThe video is part of the 92Y's Campaign for the American Conversation, a continuing series put together in collaboraton with the Kennedy School. The campaign's goal is to break down the ivory towers of academia and spark conversation by giving highly educated speakers the chance to discuss topics in simple, easy-to-follow terms.\n\"The Essentials series aims to provide a core collection of content that can serve as an educated, informed basis for discussion,\" said the 92Y in a release.\nHow do you think new medical technology should be balanced against its costs? Let us know."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2012/05/09/medical-tech-managed/>