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The Strategist in Brief: January 30, 2025 · The Strategy Catalyst Dispatch

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  This is the audio version of The Strategist in Brief for January 30th, 2025.
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  Our first market scan in this edition highlights some of our favorite insights from the recent J.
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  P.
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  Morgan Healthcare Conference.
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  The shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December cast a shadow over this year's conference.
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  Attendees noticed that security was visibly enhanced, and a nearby protest also attracted attention.
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  Many non profit health systems presented on their growth plans and new partnerships, including Common Spirit, Intermountain, IU Health, Advent Health, Novant Health, and Mayo Clinic.
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  We saw three main themes.
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  Several systems are highly focused on systemness and driving operational efficiencies.
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  Others emphasize strategic growth in discrete segments, like pediatrics and outpatient care.
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  Workforce and AI also remained key areas of investment.
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  In other news from the conference, the Coalition for Health AI announced the launch of a new working group focused on developing best practices for quality assurance and the ethical use of AI technologies in the prior authorization process.
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  While we don't expect this group's worth to solve the growing arms race between providers and payers, the group's framework could provide independent standards for distinguishing between good and bad actors in the industry.
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  Finally, in a new partnership, Amazon customers that are eligible for Teladoc's diabetes, hypertension, pre diabetes, and weight management programs through their employer or health plan will now be able to find their benefits through Amazon's Health Benefits Connector service.
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  The partnership will give Teladoc a wider distribution channel for its chronic conditions care offerings, and Amazon will likely derive a financial benefit for referrals, although terms were not disclosed.
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  Moving on to our second market scan, a new report in the Washington Post highlights a trend of rising bankruptcies and defaults for PE owned healthcare companies.
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  Meanwhile, a new report released in the final days of the Biden administration highlights concerns about PE led consolidation in the industry.
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  It remains to be seen how the new Trump administration will handle regulatory oversight of PE's role in healthcare.
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  There remains bipartisan interest in Congress for increased scrutiny, and state level policymakers are also taking action on their own.
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  And now, two other pieces of news.
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  Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's GLP 1 drugs Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rubelsis, has been selected for Medicare drug price negotiations.
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  While the list of drugs set for negotiations was released by the Biden administration, the Trump administration will lead the negotiation process.
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  Trump's first wave of executive orders included several reversals of Biden and pre Biden administration executive orders.
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  which could indicate a shifting approach to health care industry regulation.
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  Lower prices for GOP1 drugs could improve access and adherence.
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  Health systems with weight management programs may need to adapt to increased availability.
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  In another piece of news, the DEA announced three new proposed rules to make permanent certain telehealth flexibilities established during the pandemic, including a process for prescribing controlled substances without an in person evaluation.
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  Telehealth advocacy groups have pushed back against the proposed restrictions on interstate prescribing and virtual only prescribing.
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  These proposals could derail the virtual only models of disruptors like Teladoc, and they could create more of an opening for health systems, And competitors like One Medical that employ hybrid care models.
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  That concludes this week's Strategist in Brief.
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  Be sure to check out the full version on the web at hmacademy.
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  com.
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  Thanks for listening.