Polsinelli Releases White Paper on Key Factors Driving Rapid Transformation of National Health Care Ecosystem Toward a More Patient-Centric Model

DALLAS, Oct. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli, widely recognized as one of the nation's preeminent firms for health care law, today issued a white paper titled "Health Care 'Prime': The Shaping of Health Care in America Through M+A and Innovation." The report, composed by Polsinelli's Health Care M+A Practice, provides an in-depth analysis of the significant change agents that are remaking America's health care ecosystem at an accelerating pace. It also discusses the principal themes and outcomes that will define the industry's patient-centric future.

"We are witnessing a period in the modern health care industry marked by a notable break from the past, in terms of how health care will be owned, organized, delivered and paid for," said white paper co-author Jon Henderson, a Polsinelli shareholder who serves as chair of the firm's national Corporate and Transactional Practice Group. "Driven by record deal-making volume and the health care sector's embrace of innovation, the future era of Health Care 'Prime' will be far more centered on the patient, creating exponential opportunities for better patient care – not to mention exponential financial opportunities for those who lead the future of health care in America."

Key findings, observations and predictions from the newly released report include:

• A record volume of mergers and acquisitions is one of the most significant change agents reshaping the health care industry nationwide. For the year-to-date period ending June 2018, there were 530 health care industry deals announced or closed – a record volume. This represents a 12.3 percent increase over the volume (472) of announced or closed health care deals for the June 2017 year-to-date period – a record volume at the time.
  
  
• Innovation is a significant driver in health care's transformation. Health care has historically been largely immune to disruptive innovation, with much of past "innovation" in the industry really serving to sustain an industry known for rising costs and non-patient-centric outcomes. Recent innovations related to health care products, services, business models, technology and knowledge are beginning to drive true transformation in the sector.
  
  
  A few recent examples include: new entrants into the market with new ownership structures, such as Amazon; new health delivery models, such as telehealth and employer on-site clinics; and new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and 3D printing.
  
  
• The conceptual framework for Polsinelli's analysis of the health care ecosystem's rapid evolution and predicted future state included several key areas of focus: ownership and organization, delivery, and payment. Six predominant themes and outcomes will define the future state of U.S. health care, as seen in each of these main focus areas. These include:

o   Focus Area: Structural Changes to Health Care Ownership and Organization

• Private equity ownership
• Integrated care continuum

o   Focus Area: Changes in How Health Care Services Are Delivered

• Consumerism
• Shift from in-patient to out-patient care

o   Focus Area: Changes in the Future of Payment and Processing Systems

• Value-based care
• Data revolution

The potential implications for each of these focus areas were first profoundly noticeable to the report's authors in the announced formation earlier this year of a new health care company by Amazon, JP Morgan and Berkshire Hathaway (the "Amazon Venture") – thus the white paper's moniker, "Health Care 'Prime.'" The title also recognizes a double meaning of "prime," because the future state of health care will be more optimized, in the view of the authors. 

The full white paper is available for download here. In addition to Henderson, white paper co-authors included Polsinelli Shareholder Andrew Kinworthy and Polsinelli Associate Kevin McDonell.

Recognized as a leader in health care law, Polsinelli is currently ranked as the 2018 "Law Firm of the Year" in Health Care by U.S. News & World Report's "Best Law Firms" for the second time in four years, and in 2018 continues to hold the national Tier One ranking in Health Care Law. The practice is currently ranked by the American Health Lawyers Association as the largest health care practice in the nation (AHLA Connections, 2018), and is nationally ranked by Chambers USA 2018.

About Polsinelli

Polsinelli is an Am Law 100 firm with more than 825 attorneys in 21 offices. Ranked #24 for Client Service Excellence¹ and #10 for best client relationships² among 650 U.S. law firms, Polsinelli was also named among the top 30 best-known firms in the nation³ for the second consecutive year. The firm's attorneys provide value through practical legal counsel infused with business insight, and focus on health care, financial services, real estate, intellectual property, mid-market corporate, labor and employment, and business litigation. www.polsinelli.com | Polsinelli PC | In California, Polsinelli LLP

¹2018 BTI Client Service A-Team Report
²2017 BTI Industry Power Rankings
³2018 BTI Brand Elite

For more information, contact:
Carrie Trent, Polsinelli
314-552-6864
[email protected]

SOURCE Polsinelli

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