Top 10 Health Care Trends Report Finds Opportunities to Achieve "Triple Aim"

BOSTON, Oct. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Foundation today released "Ahead of the Curve: Top 10 Emerging Health Care Trends – Implications for Patients, Providers, Payers and Pharmaceuticals." The report is the work of a six-month research initiative involving a targeted literature review and an advisory panel composed of health care thought leaders from academia, industry, managed care, government and patient advocacy. 

With support from Pfizer, Inc., the "Ahead of the Curve" initiative assessed the impact of emerging trends on health care delivery and managed care pharmacy practices. The 40-page report outlines the top 10 trends in health care and their effect on health system efforts—including managed care pharmacy's—to achieve the Triple Aim of health reform: Improvements in patient satisfaction and quality of care, population health and affordability.

"'Ahead of the Curve' offers a timely, well-thought-out assessment of the major changes in our health care system over the next five years" said Edith A. Rosato, RPh, IOM, chairman of the AMCP Foundation Board of Trustees and CEO of AMCP. "It identifies key elements of strategies for how the players in our health system, from health plans, employers and governments to providers, patients and drug companies, can harness these 10 new and emerging trends to achieve the Triple Aim of health reform."

"In this fast paced environment, it is critical to understand the shifting landscape so that organizations can anticipate changes and prioritize actions," said David Moules, VP, Pfizer, Inc., U.S. Payer & Channel Access. "The results of 'Ahead of the Curve' validates the biopharmaceutical industry's efforts to discover, develop and bring to market medicines deemed to be of value to the health care system including those that are responsible for paying for the medicines."

The top 10 trends identified by the report include:

1. Migration from fee-for-service to new provider payment models
2. Consolidation of health care stakeholders
3. Widespread use of data and analytics in patient care
4. Increased utilization and spending for specialty medicines
5. Medicaid expansion
6. Migration to value-oriented health care marketplace
7. Growth and performance of accountable care organizations
8. Greater patient engagement through technology
9. Increasing patient cost-sharing
10. Health care everywhere through new tools and mobile applications.

The report notes that public policy (i.e., the passage of the ACA) and technological and scientific innovation jump-started rapid, dynamic changes in the system. While the movement towards achieving the Triple Aim will be a continuing effort for many years, "the next five years are expected to signal significant advances in the movement towards a system where holistic care for the patient sits center stage, accountability is shared across stakeholders and value becomes the core currency of the health care marketplace."

To obtain copy of "Ahead of the Curve," visit www.amcpfoundation.org.

About AMCP Foundation
The AMCP Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, is a research, education and philanthropic organization supporting the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. Established in 1990, the AMCP Foundation supports the research and education agenda of AMCP. The Foundation exists to advance collective knowledge and insights on major issues associated with the practice of pharmacy in managed health care settings. www.amcpfoundation.org.

About Pfizer
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives.  We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products.  Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care products.  Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time.  Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world.  For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us.  To learn more, please visit us at www.pfizer.com.

SOURCE Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Foundation