Health technology assessment in Canada and the United States: the case of biologics.

Canadian health technology assessments (HTAs) are coordinated by government agencies, while HTA activity in the United States is conducted haphazardly by a variety of interest groups. As a result, biologic therapies have diffused more slowly and rationally in Canada, according to the authors. If HTAs were conducted similarly in the United States, the distribution of biologics might occur more efficiently.