PwC's Health Research Institute (HRI) outlines 12 defining healthcare trends to watch in 2018 that will be distinguished by persistent uncertainty and risk. 2018 will be distinguished by persistent uncertainty and risk for the US health industry. 2018 is likely to mirror 2017 – a year marked by raucous debates over health and tax reform and a series of crises triggered by natural disasters – in terms of volatility, according to the latest research from PwC's Health Research Institute (HRI).
The PwC HRI annual report, "Top health industry issues of 2018," lists the 12 trends most likely to shape the industry next year. HRI developed its list of a dozen top issues through analyses of surveys of US consumers, provider, insurer and pharmaceutical executives, in-depth interviews with industry leaders and examination of data and policy trends.
The top 12 defining healthcare trends to watch HRI identified include:
1. The healthcare industry tackles the opioid crisis
2. Social determinants come to the forefront
3. Price transparency moves to the statehouse
4. Natural disasters create devastation that lasts long after the event passes
5. Medicare Advantage swells in 2018
6. Health reform isn't over, it's just more complicated
7. Securing the internet of things
8. Patient experience as a priority and not just a patient portal
9. Meet your new coworker, artificial intelligence
10. Healthcare's endangered middlemen
11. Real-world evidence a growing challenge for pharma
12. Tax reform moves forward
