Writing Planning Worksheet
1. What is the public policy topic you have chosen from this week’s readings and lectures? Choose a topic that presents a problem in this policy area. Market Consolidation of the healthcare industry
2. What is the problem? – vertical and horizontal consolidation of many segments of the
healthcare industry – consolidation increases prices and fails to improve the quality of care
3. What is the impact of the problem, and who does it affect? – for example, insurers acquiring physician practices and other
providers or pharmacy benefit managers acquiring pharmacies and drug manufacturers
– hospitals’ acquisitions of physicians’ practices, insurers’ acquisitions of physician practices, other providers, and pharmaceutical benefit managers (PBMs), and pharmacies integrating with PBMs
4. What solution could you recommend? The solution can be an original idea, or you may use a previously-proposed solution, as long as you credit the author.
– the administration has increased budgets for the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice, adjusted standards for future mergers, and barred noncompete clauses
– closely evaluate and require healthcare entities to report merger-and-acquisition activities
5. Who is your audience? (Is this an educated audience? It makes a difference in how you write.)
Policy maker and educated audience who potentially work in the medical industry and has been affected by the new policy/consolidation
https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2022/01/2022-congressio nal-outlook-and-top-10-federal-health-policy-issues
https://hbr.org/2021/03/the-pandemic-will-fuel-consolidation-in-u-s-health -care
