Consumer-driven health plans, double-digit cost increases, disease management, e-health, incentive programs and new legislation – these developments are continuing to drive changes in healthcare financing and planning. Striving to contain costs through innovative programs and preventative measures, healthcare professionals manage the present in anticipation of future development.

Continual growth, technological advancement and demands for cost control compel health planners to think ahead. During an October 2005 audio conference, HIN invited several industry thought leaders to look ahead to the coming year's trends and share their predictions regarding cost, utilization, industry dynamics, consumer-driven healthcare, disease management and physician engagement and other timely issues.

In this special report, "Healthcare Trends & Forecasts in 2006: Performance Expectations for the Healthcare Industry," industry thought leaders share their opinions and advice on the state of the industry, hospital dynamics, socio-demographics, cost predictions, consumer-driven healthcare, the uninsured and strategies for success.

You'll hear from Nathan Kaufman, senior vice president of healthcare strategy for ACS Healthcare Solutions, Dr. Peter Kongstvedt, a partner in the Health/Managed Care Consulting Services Practice at Accenture and Steven T. Valentine, president of The Camden Group on their analyses, predictions and advice.

This 43-page report is based on the October 12, 2005 audio conference "Healthcare Trends & Forecasts 2006," during which Kaufman, Kongstvedt and Valentine described their views of the healthcare industry.

You'll get details on:

• the five forces impacting healthcare delivery;
• the impact of pay-for-performance programs;
• the drivers behind healthcare costs increases;
• the role of prevention in healthcare's future;
• new revenue sources for physician organizations;
• the key strategy for hospital success; and
• the future of technology.

Table of Contents

• This Year's Thought Leaders
• On the State of the Industry
  • The Five Forces Impacting Healthcare Delivery
  • Reflections On Reimbursement
  • The Impact of Pay-for-Performance
  • When to Reinvent Business Processes
  • Perils of Consolidation in the Healthcare Market
• On Hospital Dynamics
  • When Hospitals' Capital Flow Tightens
  • Growth in Emergency Department Visits
  • Emergency Department Capacity Crisis
  • Differences between Hospitalists and PCPs
• On Socio-demographics
• On Cost Predictions
  • Why People Say Healthcare Costs Are Up
  • "Usual Suspects" Responsible for Elevated Costs
  • Covering Genomics and Personalized Medicine
  • Paying for Technology
  • Consumer Ratings of Trustworthiness
  • The Need for Health Cost Transparency
• On Consumer-Driven Healthcare
  • Disasters' Effect on the EMR Timetable
  • The Role of Prevention Programs in Healthcare's Future
  • Pinning Down Disease Management ROI
• On the Uninsured
  • Aiding the Uninsured in 2006
• On Fashioning Strategies for Success
  • Partnering with Hospitals to Manage Future Trends
  • Taking Market Share Key Strategy for Hospitals
  • Practices Should Look to New Revenue Sources
  • The Future of Technology
• Glossary
• For More Information
• About the Authors

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