PwC: Identifies the top ten health industry issues to watch in 2013

By Rob Starr, Content Manager, Big4.com

As the health industry undertakes a full transition to meet requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and to prepare for a shift in market dynamics, PwC’s Health Research Institute ( HRI) has published its annual list of the Top Health Industry Issues for 2013.

The list is informed by HRI research and the collective input of PwC’s Health Industries professionals who work with hospitals, physician groups, pharmaceutical and medical device companies and employers.  For this year’s report, HRI also conducted a poll of 1,000 U.S. consumers on a range of healthcare topics covered in the report. The report provides further analysis of the top issues for 2013 and outlines implications for key stakeholders.

“Health organizations can hear the thundering footsteps of 30 million newly insured Americans on the horizon.  Yet they are feeling the full force and impact of federal spending cuts and pressure from states, employers and consumers to operate more like a consumer-focused, retail industry,” said Kelly Barnes, PwC’s U.S. Health Industries Leader.  “By this time next year, the major provisions of the health reform law will be in effect, and the health industry has a lot of work to do before then.  It’s now a foot race to 2014.  The evolution of healthcare that has been in effect over the past several years will become a full-scale transformation in 2013.”