The purpose of this report is to explore issues relating to healthcare expenses. To examine the concept of risk for providers in a capitation payment environment and to estimate the effectiveness of various risk limiting techniques.

This report shows how new technological tools or devices are being used in adult education and training it examines the evidence of their effectiveness and costs and it suggests prospects for the future use of technologies.

This report discusses the use of neural grafts from fetuses that is showing some success for the treatment of disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

This report starts out with an overview of the immune system, describes the central nervous system (CNS), and future consideration.

This report discuses the assessment conducted by OTA office in preparation for climatic changes.

This is the OTAs second report on climate change. OTA examines how the Nation can best prepare for an uncertain future climate. This assessment tackles the difficult tasks of assessing how natural and human systems may be affected by climate change and of evaluating the tools at our disposal to ease adaptation to a warmer climate.

This report aims to identify the tasks assigned by the OTA and their major sections. The issues of concern to the OTA, and those who make contributions to their discussion, are shown.

This report discusses the Japanese higher education graduates in science and engineering. It discusses the work force in these fields and the major structural reforms in the education system.

This report discusses the effects of changes in Medicare reimbursement methods, examines the ethical considerations, and classifies the alternative payment methods.

This report report discusses the development of technician's auto analyzer, the first cardiac pacemaker, electronic retinoscope, the development of implantable drug-infusion pump and other implantable medication systems.

This report considers international copyright as an instrument of adjustment of rights and interests domestically and among nations.

The purpose of this report is to: 1)update the estimated level of use of pneumococcal vaccine in the United States, 2)examine factors that influence its use, and 3) assess how, if at all, selected alternative payment methods might affect the use of this vaccine.

This report is designated to offer an ethical analysis of decisions to withhold and to withdrew life-sustaining technologies form patients in accord with their wishes and interests.

This report discusses a study that provides an opportunity for teachers to speak to policy makers about their experiences with educational technology.

This report aims to synthesize discussions, correspondences and readings in terms of a novel framework that characterizes advances in the field of educational science and technology.

This report discusses the power of new tools for teaching and learning

This report both describes current clinical and economic aspects of cataract surgery and analyzes how alternative methods of paying physicians might affect cataract surgery in the future.

This report examines Federal policies directed at protecting information, particularly in electronic communications systems.

This report discusses options for a national policy based on the dual strategies of MSW prevention and better management. It also presents options to address immediate problems such as increased interstate shipments of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and unfinished Federal guidelines for landfills and incinerators.

This report reviews the status of magnetic confinement fusion research and compares its progress with the requirements for development of a useful energy technology. The report does not analyze inertial confinement fusion research, which is overseen by the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

This special report, the second of our neuroscience series, discusses the field of neural grafting into the brain and spinal cord to treat neurological disorders. It describes the technology of neural grafting, the neurological conditions that it may be used to treat, and the patient populations that are affected. Also, the legal and ethical issues raised by the development of neural grafting techniques are discussed. The report includes a range of options for congressional action related to the Federal funding of transplantation research using human fetal tissue, the adequacy of existing Federal laws and regulations regarding the use of human fetal tissue, and the role of the Federal Government in guiding the development and promoting the safety and efficacy of neural grafting procedures.

This background paper, OTA sought the contributions of abroad spectrum of knowledgeable individuals and organizations. Some provided information, others reviewed drafts. OTA gratefully acknowledges their contributions of time and intellectual effort. As with all OTA studies, the content of this background paper is the sole responsibility of the Office of Technology Assessment and does not necessarily represent the views of our advisors or reviewers.

This report examines how the economic environment of the United States can be made more conducive to improving manufacturing performance. It considers how Federal institutions, in cooperation with industry, can develop competitiveness strategies for high-tech, fast growing industries; and how trade, financial, and technology policies could be combined into a strategic competitiveness policy.

Federal monitoring and enforcement action is dependent on technical capability to detect pesticides. A major concern is that Federal regulatory agencies cannot practically monitor food for all pesticides of health concern. OTA was asked to assess whether existing and emerging technologies could improve Federal monitoring of pesticide residues in food. In addition, OTA examined the Federal research programs dedicated to improving Federal analytical capabilities for the detection of pesticides in food.