Hello Academy IQ Members! 

Week of November 17th, 2024 

This week’s newsletter is 2,209 words or a 9-minute read.  

Welcome to the Executive Edge. Here we offer solution companies insights on issues facing health system executives today - all based on our extensive executive and health system intelligence. Use these insights to spark conversations, demonstrate your knowledge of industry trends, and position your company as a valuable partner to health systems. 

Keep the feedback coming – tell us how you like this new format! Find us at AcademyIQ@hmacademy.com. 

– Olivia and the Academy IQ Team 

This edition of The Executive Edge includes:

  1. What the Election Results Mean for Healthcare: The Republican Party's potential unified control of the federal government under Former President Donald Trump's second term could lead to significant, though uncertain, shifts in healthcare policy, including changes to the ACA, FTC antitrust guidelines, and trade tariffs impacting health systems. While specific reforms remain unclear due to a lack of detailed agendas, possible impacts include reductions in ACA enrollment subsidies, a more permissive merger environment, and inflationary pressures from proposed tariffs on imports and medical devices.

  2. Cost-Plus Drugs Take Center Stage at THMA Forums: Cost-Plus Drugs, founded by Dr. Oshmyansky with support from Mark Cuban, leverages innovative production methods and a transparent pricing model to disrupt traditional drug pricing and supply chains, addressing high costs and shortages. Read on for his exclusive takes on introducing a wholesale marketplace and partnering with Fortune 500 companies, the company aims to transform PBM relationships and empower health systems with cost-effective, transparent solutions.

  3. Sanford and Marshfield Sign Merger Agreement: Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System's merger, pending regulatory approval, will create a $10B revenue system with expanded capabilities in population health, value-based care, and workforce development. For Sanford, the deal offers diversification, access to Marshfield's commercial payer mix, and value-based care expertise, while Marshfield gains financial stability and resources to address recent operating losses.

  4. Elevance Health Buys CareBridge: Elevance Health's $2.7B acquisition of CareBridge strengthens its home-based care capabilities, leveraging CareBridge's tech-driven model and multidisciplinary teams to serve Medicaid and dual-eligible patients. Key challenges include maintaining partnerships with competitors post-acquisition, integrating CareBridge into Carelon without losing its unique value, and navigating Medicaid's financial headwinds amidst redetermination impacts and rising patient acuity.