Health execs best consider now what a ‘Bidencare’ might look like later
As Joe Biden makes plans to intensify the federal response to the COVID crisis, he can expect support on that agenda item from 77% of Democrats, 62% of independents, 55% of Republicans and 50% of others.
Apart from that, watch for the President-elect to pick up where President Obama left off with healthcare, advises the firm making the predictions, PwC’s Health Research Institute (HRI).
Accordingly, if President Trump’s legal team fails to successfully challenge the results it’s contesting, a Biden administration will build on Obamacare with incremental expansions in government-subsidized coverage, take aim at driving down drug prices and push for modernizing the FDA, the HRI projects.
The HRI arrived at its forecasts after polling and/or interviewing numerous subgroups of stakeholders. Respondents included more than 2,500 consumers as well as healthcare executives from provider institutions (153 respondents) pharma and life-sciences companies (124) and payers (128).
Further, the group conducted “desk research and economic analysis, and examined in depth the policy positions of President-elect Biden, along with his healthcare legacy.”
As it happened, PwC released the report presenting the analysis over the weekend, just hours ahead of Monday’s big news that Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine had an effectiveness rate of more than 90% in an early analysis.
Be that as it may, the report offers much to consider.
Commenting on findings with particular ramifications for healthcare executives, the authors suggest watching for an administration “with an expansionary agenda, looking to patch gaps in coverage for Americans, scrutinize proposed healthcare mergers and acquisitions more aggressively and use more of the government’s power to address the pandemic.”
Should the revived ACA get shot down—not an unlikely scenario if the GOP holds the Senate—expect Washington Democrats to start crafting a replacement, HRI advises.
Don’t be surprised if it gets tagged Bidencare. (That prediction is from HealthExec.)
“Healthcare executives should scenario plan for this unlikely yet potentially highly disruptive event, and plan for an administration marked by more certainty and continuity with the Obama years,” the authors write.
PwC has posted the report in full for free.
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.