What is the Technology Evaluation Center?
Overview
Founded in 1985 by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, the Technology Evaluation Center (TEC) pioneered the development of scientific criteria for assessing medical technologies through comprehensive reviews of clinical evidence. TEC operates as part of the Association's Office of Clinical Affairs.
Since its inception, TEC has been recognized for leadership in producing evidence-based technology assessments. Each TEC Assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of the clinical effectiveness and appropriateness of a given medical procedure, device or drug. Averaging 20 to 25 assessments a year, TEC provides healthcare decision makers with timely, rigorous and credible information on clinical effectiveness. TEC serves a wide range of clients in both the private and public sectors, including Kaiser Permanente and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
TEC Assessments are scientific opinions, provided solely for informational purposes. TEC Assessments should not be construed to suggest that the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program or the TEC Program recommends, advocates, requires, encourages, or discourages any particular treatment, procedure, or service; any particular course of treatment, procedure, or service; or the payment or non-payment of the technology or technologies evaluated.
Staff
TEC is headed by Executive Director, Naomi Aronson, Ph.D. Its core staff of research scientists consists of experienced physicians and doctorate-level scientists with a history of academic and primary research affiliations. They are also supported by professionals in pharmacology, nursing, statistical methods and library science, and represent a multitude of clinical and methodological disciplines that are integral to performing technology assessments.
A Medical Advisory Panel, comprising independent, nationally recognized experts in technology assessment, clinical research and medical specialties, has scientific accountability for all TEC assessments. The 19-member panel meets three times a year to review TEC Assessments and judge the quality of evidence and the relative weights of the potential benefits and harms. The Panel includes appointees from the American Collegeof Physicians, American Collegeof Medical Genetics, American Academyof Family Physicians, American Collegeof Cardiology, American Academyof Pediatrics, and American College of Surgeons. Panel members who are specialty society appointees render independent judgments regarding issues presented to the MAP; the results of TEC Assessments and Special Reports should not be construed either to be endorsed or approved by the individual appointing specialty societies.
Following each Medical Advisory Panel meeting, TEC publishes the preliminary executive summaries of the reviewed assessments as TEC Assessments In Press.
TEC Special Assessments
TEC Assessments routinely use the five TEC criteria to evaluate whether drugs, devices, procedures and biological products improve health outcomes such as length of life, quality of life and functional ability. On occasion, TEC issues special assessments that examine how a technology is applied in a broader context. These special assessments might address how to manage the care of a specific population. Other times they may compare the relative effectiveness of different clinical approaches or analyze the cost-effectiveness of technologies.
For more information or to request a copy of a Special Assessment, contact us.
