In 2021, healthcare news was flooded with headlines featuring “Covid-19,” “herd immunity,” “boosters,” “investment,” and “mental health.” While these will continue to be at the center of the healthcare conversation, we are seeing some emerging trends from the industry and our clients that we expect will be more prominent this year.
As we look beyond the pandemic, 2022 healthcare news will focus on the expanding collaboration and integration across the industry. For years, healthcare’s forward thinkers have been predicting that aligned incentives across payers, providers, and patients will drive more value in the healthcare system – in 2022 we will see true progress towards the goal of achieving the quadruple aim. With all that has happened in healthcare over the past two years, this has never been a more critical pursuit. As leaders prepare for what the year ahead may bring, the buzz across healthcare will be centered around the following key terms:
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Adam Sabloff Adam Sabloff is the founder and CEO of VirtualHealth, provider of HELIOS, the leading SaaS care management platform, serving nearly 10 million members across the U.S. Prior to VirtualHealth, Sabloff served as VP of Development and Chief Marketing Officer for Midtown Equities, a $7 billion real estate, media and aviation conglomerate, where he […]
- Chronic Care Management: According to the CDC, nearly 6 in 10 adults in the U.S. have a chronic health condition and this number will continue to rise. As the proportion of these patients that are in government sponsored, value-based care plans continues to grow, the healthcare industry is seeking ways to better manage chronic conditions that improves outcomes and reduces costs. Chronic care management will be a key topic in 2022 as payers, providers, and community organizations implement technology solutions to improve collaboration for these complex populations.
- Payviders: The healthcare industry is seeing increased integration of payers and providers into new “payvider” models where a single organization has control of both the risk and quality of healthcare delivery. This vertical integration allows “payvider” organizations to more effectively engineer the patient experience and deliver value from the overall healthcare experience. As cost pressures continue to increase, we expect to see more examples of “payvider” focused partnerships and acquisitions in 2022. According to a recent survey, nearly 60% of health systems plan to enter risk-based Medicare Advantage payment models.
- Delegated Entities: Effectively delivering value-based care requires more data and a larger network of providers to address specialty care outside of the clinic for chronic conditions and social determinants that impact a patient’s overall health. Many state Medicaid programs are choosing to delegate some of their highest risk and costly populations (like renal care or behavioral health) to independent “delegated entities” that are willing to take on the risk and management for specific high-need populations.
- Clinician Satisfaction: It is no secret the pandemic has exacerbated physician burnout. Today, between 60 to 75% of physicians report feelings of burnout. As healthcare leaders and innovators, we must do more to support our heroes on the frontlines of care. Care management technology can help by streamlining workflows, reducing manual data entry, and proactively supporting patients outside of the doctor’s office. Investments in technology that improve clinician job satisfaction and increase time with patients will be a topic of discussion in 2022.
The healthcare industry is well-positioned to tackle some of its most pressing challenges this year through a collaborative approach across payers, providers, and patients. We can expect to hear more discussions around chronic care management, payviders, delegated entities, and clinician satisfaction as we continue moving toward a healthcare model that allows for all aspects of the health ecosystem to reach their full potential.
Photo: filo, Getty Images
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Adam Sabloff is the founder and CEO of VirtualHealth, provider of HELIOS, the leading SaaS care management platform, serving nearly 10 million members across the U.S. Prior to VirtualHealth, Sabloff served as VP of Development and Chief Marketing Officer for Midtown Equities, a $7 billion real estate, media and aviation conglomerate, where he also oversaw its technology subsidiary, Midtown Technologies.
