Summary
The health care forum brought together participants representing major employers, healthcare providers and insurers, as well as Congressional leaders. Unlike the 1993 initiative, which met determined opposition from the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, this time there is broad support for the need for national reform from insurers and business as well as providers and policy analysts. Most parties recognize, however, that major cost savings must be achieved if universal coverage will be affordable. Companies that may benefit from current health reform initiaties are health IT vendors (Cerner, Epic, AllScripts, etc.); generic drug manufacturers; providers focusing on prevention and wellness; and insurers that can demonstrate meaningful use of comparative effectiveness studies and data on providers' adherence to quality standards.
Analysis
Comparative effectiveness research will have important implications for the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Over $1 billion was included in the stimulus bill for comparative effectiveness research, including establishment of a federal coordinating council. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has found, in some studies done to date, that the newest drugs and devices do not always offer significant benefits to older therapies and can substantially increase cost.
