Many of the most pressing health care concerns the industry has to deal with in 2014 have to do with employee benefits, according to a new report issued by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
In its annual report, "Top Health Industry Issues for 2014," the New York-based research organization indicated that some of the main issues that the health care industry will have to focus on in the coming year include making prices more transparent for consumers and employers so that they can better determine the quality of different coverages, as well as what it will cost them in premiums. Additionally, even though the employer mandate was postponed until 2015, business owners will still be looking to explore what their options are through some of the private exchanges set up at the state level.
Kelly Barnes, health industries leader for PwC, indicated that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is clearly the factor that's most driving the conversation about health coverage today, but there's more to it than that.
"The next 12 months will be marked by how well the industry addresses a range of core business challenges," said Barnes. "Our annual Top Issues report identifies the main concerns facing the health industry in 2014. Businesses must address rapid innovation and competition from non-traditional players, but above all they must respond to empowered consumers as customer-centric transformation sweeps health care."
Other major issues cited in the report included how technology is changing the job market with the health care industry, companies needing to revitalize their business models in the "new health economy," and putting in place more rigorous regulations in order to make counterfeit medications less of an issue.
Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of trade association America's Health Insurance Plans, recently indicated in a year-end statement that the biggest issue facing the industry today relates to insurers – and Americans in general, adjusting to the health care overhaul.
