In 2021, healthcare news is filled with headlines like “Covid-19,” “herd immunity,” “boosters,” “investments,” and “mental health.” While these will continue to be at the center of the healthcare conversation, we see some emerging trends in the industry and our customers that we expect will be more prominent this year.
Healthcare news in 2022 will focus on expanding collaboration and integration across the industry as we look beyond the pandemic. Healthcare forward thinkers have been predicting for years that aligned incentives between payers, providers and patients will drive more value in the healthcare system – and by 2022 we will see a quadruple of real progress. Given everything that has happened in healthcare over the past two years, this has never been a more important pursuit. As leaders prepare for what the coming year may bring, discussions across the healthcare space will revolve around the following key terms:
- Chronic Care Management: According to the CDC, almost 6 out of 10 adults in the U.S. suffer from a chronic health condition and the number will continue to rise. As the proportion of these patients in government-funded value-based care programs continues to grow, the healthcare industry is seeking ways to better manage chronic conditions to improve outcomes and reduce costs. Chronic care management will be a key topic in 2022 as payers, providers, and community organizations implement technology solutions to improve collaboration among these complex populations.
- payer: The healthcare industry is increasingly integrating payers and providers into new “payment provider” models, where a single organization controls the risk and quality of healthcare delivery. This vertical integration enables “paying provider” organizations to more effectively design the patient experience and create value from the overall healthcare experience. As cost pressures continue to mount, we expect to see more examples of “payvider”-focused partnerships and acquisitions in 2022.According to a recent pollsnearly 60% of health system plans go into a risk-based Medicare Advantage payment model.
- delegating entity: Effectively delivering value-based care requires more data and a larger network of providers to address chronic conditions beyond the clinic and specialty care that affects the social determinants of a patient’s overall health. Many state Medicaid programs choose to entrust some of the most at-risk and costly populations (such as kidney care or behavioral health) to independent “delegated entities” willing to take risks and manage specific high-need populations.
- Clinician Satisfaction: It’s no secret that the pandemic has fueled physician burnout.Today, between 60 to 75% of doctors report burnout. As leaders and innovators in healthcare, we must do more to support our heroes on the front lines of healthcare. Care management technology can help by streamlining workflows, reducing manual data entry, and proactively supporting patients outside the doctor’s office. Investing in technology to improve clinician job satisfaction and increase time with patients will be a topic of discussion in 2022.
The healthcare industry is poised to address this year’s most pressing challenges through a collaborative approach across payers, providers and patients. As we continue to move toward a healthcare model that allows all aspects of the health ecosystem to reach their full potential, we can expect to hear more discussions about chronic care management, paying providers, empowered entities, and clinician satisfaction.
Photo: filo, Getty Images
