PwC's Health Research Institute released its annual report on trends that are most and least likely to affect the healthcare industry in 2020.
For its report, HRI surveyed 300 provider executives, 100 payer executives, and 100 pharmaceutical and life sciences executives on current obstacles and opportunities in the industry. HRI also surveyed 3,500 adults for their perspective on consumer experience in healthcare.
Through its analysis, HRI verified whether six statements about current healthcare trends are true or false:
1. "Medical cost trend is expected to decrease in 2020."
False. HRI projects a 6 percent medical cost trend for 2020, higher than the previous three years.
2. "Industry should expect the HHS to publish less regulation than usual next year."
True. HRI has found regulatory action slows 12 months before a presidential election.
3. "Across all industries, the biggest obstacle to monetizing data is lack of analytical talent."
False. Poor data reliability is the biggest issue, according to 34 percent of executives, while 30 percent of leaders cited lack of analytical talent as a barrier.
4. "The [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development] wants to profoundly change the way member nations tax digital business activity."
True. OECD published a proposal in October that would drastically alter how digital business activity is taxed. If the provisions are adopted, the changes would significantly affect global healthcare companies.
5. "Healthcare consumers by and large believe healthcare deals activity benefits them."
False. HRI found consumers have a mostly neutral view on whether healthcare deals will lower their costs and improve quality.
6. "Promoting diversity in leadership is a workforce priority for most healthcare organizations in 2020."
False. When surveyed by HRI, only 18 percent of healthcare executives said promoting diversity in leadership is a priority for 2020.
Read the full report here.
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