Q1 2024 saw a significant rise in the number of hospital M&A deals compared to the past three Q1s. Experts believe this M&A activity will continue to climb throughout this year and next — motivated by both financial distress and hospitals’ desire to improve strategic business lines like value-based care and digital healthcare services.
Most hospitals and payers have publicly posted their pricing information, but experts think that data will remain mostly useless for consumers for at least another five years. Now that the data is available, healthcare software companies must step in and build tools that are personalized and easy to use. That way, consumers can eventually use price transparency data to shop for care.
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
Healthcare-focused market research firm Trilliant Health published a report detailing the 10 most significant economic trends affecting U.S. healthcare stakeholders in 2023. Some of the main ideas covered in the report included Americans’ worsening physical and mental health, the industry’s shift away from traditional care pathways, and the way patients' decision making is becoming increasingly driven by consumerism.
The DEA recently released proposed rules that would require an in-person visit before a patient can receive a telehealth prescription for a controlled substance. The DEA touts the change as a way to ensure patient safety, but several telehealth advocates argue it will greatly disrupt access for those who need the drugs — especially at a time when the mental health and substance use crisis is growing.
Trilliant Health created a new AI-powered index for comparative hospital benchmarking. Healthcare stakeholders across the entire industry — including hospitals, payers, device companies, drugmakers and tech vendors — can use the tool to inform their strategies for things like competitive analysis, clinical quality program management, mergers, acquisitions and product sales.
The health system has invested an undisclosed amount in Trilliant Health, which provides a predictive analytics platform giving users insights into market dynamics. Bon Secours Mercy Health is also a founding member of another healthcare data company: Truveta.
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.