The continuing acquisition and use of new technologies (defined here as the drugs, devices and procedures used by health professionals) is a substantial driver of increasing healthcare costs (Bodenheimer 2005; Fuchs 1996; Newhouse 1993; Schwartz 1987). The cost of new technology acquisition has been variously estimated to make up 39% (Mohr et al. 2001), 50% (Wanless 2001) and 66% (Di Matteo 2005) of the overall annual increase in healthcare spending.