2013 Top Healthcare Issues In a recent survey, CHMB asked healthcare executives to rank 5 issues affecting healthcare in order of the impact the issue has on the overall healthcare system today. #1 Issue: Escalating Healthcare Costs & Loss of Healthcare Funding 83% As new and innovative models of care such as accountable care organizations, patient centered health care home, transition of care programs and patient engagement emerges, it is difficult to find controls to contain escalating healthcare costs. In addition, there is a decrease of federal health care funds due to sequestration cuts and Affordable Care Act-mandated cuts. #2 Issue: Downward Pricing Pressure From Commercial Payers Commercial payers have recently become aggressive in their rate negotiations. If they start cutting reimbursements, it would put health systems in a negative position unless they cut more costs. 52% #3 Issue: Increased Demand for Diverse Technology 34% IT expenditure to support physician practices is growing significantly. Expanded use of technology is being counted upon to improve the healthcare experience for patients. For physicians and others in the care process; adopting, learning and deploying technology can be very difficult. Health system IT departments are faced with unprecedented technology investment, integration and support challenges. Physician alignment and integration success must occur while juggling competing priorities with existing hospital IT initiatives. #4 Issue: Difficulty with Managing & Reporting Data Because of the complexity and size of health care data, working with it can be frustrating and challenging as each new data set often has unique issues and problems. Healthcare information is a rapidly evolving and difficult-to-understand breed of data. The inability for many to receive actionable information proactively and in real time is often an obstacle to forward progress. 42% #5 Issue: Physician Practice Consolidation 33% Physician practices are being acquired at a rapid rate. The on-going consolidation of medical practices around hospitals has numerous consequences including potentially lower productivity rates amongst physicians and other business combination or integration challenges. www.chmbinc.com CHMB 2013©