Healthcare, Marketing and Strategy
Healthcare’s Big Picture
Covering over 100 million people means Blue Cross Blue Shield has a pretty good perspective on healthcare in America. Their 8th annual report, Healthcare Trends in America provides an excellent overview of where the sector stands, from the uninsured to benefit trends to improving access to care. It’s a 99 page resource filled with useful information about the “who, what, where and why” 17.3% of our Gross Domestic Product goes toward healthcare.
To access this report CLICK HERE.
Two Sides to Every Story
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The debate continues to rage on as HHS moves ahead with releasing regulations, and those opposed to PPACA are looking to either stifle it through limiting appropriation funds, or hold-out for total repeal after possible administration change in the 2012 elections. In the meantime, insurance companies are adjusting to a new world order where mandated minimum loss ratios and pared-back risk selection are the norm.
For a year-by-year PPACA implementation timeline CLICK HERE.
Also, to find out how people really feel about HCR CLICK HERE.
Medicare’s Opportunity Index
The Medicare market opportunity has never been bigger. Today, 11.8 million beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, approximately 18 million have a Part D prescription drug plan, and another 9.5 million have a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan. And, when you add the 3.6 million baby boomers aging into Medicare every year for the foreseeable future, it’s easy to see why opportunity abounds and, why this niche requires a specialized approach to solution selling.
To find out more CLICK HERE.
Back to the Future With ACOs
While they seem like HMOs or EPOs of yesteryear, Accountable Care Organizations are being hyped as the solution that brings a “whole person” orientation to care delivery, coordinating care across all components of the patient’s clinical community and all stages of need–acute and chronic, wellness and prevention, and end-of-life. This patient-centered model aligns payment incentives (and disincentives) so payers, physicians and hospitals are all financially at-risk to meet quality and cost targets.
For a recent RWJ policy brief on ACOs CLICK HERE.
Also, for a health care executive perspective on ACOs CLICK HERE.
The Social Media Train Has Left the Station
Marketing has moved from brand monologue to customer dialogue. Low-engagement traditional marketing has been replaced by interactive social engagement. It’s the new marketology! With 206 million Americans online an average of 18 hours every week, and 2.5 billion text messages sent every day, letting customers know what you stand for, why you are different, and what value you deliver is a challenge extraordinaire. With 550 million users, Facebook would be the third largest country in the world.
To access the social media White Paper CLICK HERE.
Also, to see a history timeline of the Internet CLICK HERE.
Failure to Prepare is Preparing to Fail
When transmogrification strikes a marketplace (aka, $h*! happens), decision paralysis or intolerance of new ideas means certain demise. Smart companies must anticipate change, make data-driven decisions, and react with deliberate speed. This means creating a roadmap for the future—critical success factors, possible obstacles, retooled business assumptions, and a sequence implementation plan. In fact, it pays off to take an entrepreneurial approach by putting together a ground-up business enterprise plan.
For a classic “how to” on writing a business plan CLICK HERE.