When healthcare looks back upon 2008, it will no doubt remember a year that was all about the money — the economy, reimbursement, energy costs. Fast-forward to December 2008: despite the promise of a new presidential administration, the United States is in a full-fledged recession — a condition from which the healthcare industry is no longer immune.

With the limited availability of healthcare dollars and a dip in consumer discretionary healthcare spending, what's ahead for healthcare in 2009? In Healthcare Trends & Forecasts in 2009: Performance Expectations for the Healthcare Industry, two key thought leaders reflect upon the volatile economic climate and historical election results to frame an industry outlook for the coming twelve months.

In HIN's fifth annual healthcare industry forecast, David Chin, M.D., of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute, and Perry Hanson, partner with Wipfli, a national accounting and business consulting firm, describe the implications for key stakeholders and identify a few bright spots on the healthcare horizon. They also revisit some trends that have gained ground in the last year, including the patient-centered medical home (PCMH), the retailization of healthcare and the elevation of health and wellness to the global agenda as hedges against chronic illness and associated healthcare costs.

This report also analyzes the responses of 168 healthcare organizations to the fifth annual HIN Healthcare Trends and Forecasts survey, in which respondents ranked key top-of-mind concerns, described how they are overcoming challenges posed by the faltering economy and reported on the most successful programs launched by their organizations in 2008.

In this forward-looking special report, you'll get details on:

• The anticipated healthcare policies of president-elect Obama and potential industry reform by the new administration;
• The recession's impact on pay for performance and healthcare's share of the GDP;
• Recommended strategic competencies for improving care delivery and coping with the market meltdown;
• Healthcare market forces driving healthcare IT;
• The effect of provider shortfalls on staffing, primary care access and consumer's retail healthcare habits;
• Whether wellness and prevention investments can improve health status and bottom lines;
• The transformation of patients to consumers and why their satisfaction matters;
• The new definition of "value" in healthcare;
• Four future models for healthcare delivery systems;
• A list of the 53 most successful ideas in healthcare as reported by HIN e-survey respondents;

In an expanded Q&A section, Dr. Chin and Hanson predict the fates of physician reimbursements, the PCMH, high-deductible health plans, concierge medicine, health IT and more in the year ahead.

This 40-page special report, "Healthcare Trends & Forecasts in 2009: Performance Expectations for the Healthcare Industry," showcases the topics that will continue to consume the healthcare executive, and new challenges that await the industry in 2009.

Table of Contents

• What's Ahead for Employers and Payors: Recession, Retailization and Wellness
  • Implications for Stakeholders
  • Forces Behind Retailization of Healthcare
  • Business Case for Wellness and Prevention
  • Implications for Employers
• Provider Outlook: Consumerism, Coordination of Care Key Issues
  • Patients as Customers
  • Return to Wellness
  • Good News on Some Fronts
  • Healthcare Top of Mind for New Administration
  • Future Healthcare Delivery Systems
• Results from the 2009 Healthcare Trends and Forecasts Survey
  • Economic Volatility Creates Business Opportunities for Some
  • Sector-Specific Responses
  • Best Ideas in Healthcare 2008
• Q&A: Ask the Experts
  • Health IT in 2009
  • Toward Stronger Reimbursements
  • Reimbursement for Physicians
  • Medical Home Pilots
  • Easing of Capital Markets for Healthcare
  • Screening of Employees
  • Fate of High-deductible Health Plans
  • Modifying Physician Behavior
  • Medicare as Ultimate Safety Net
  • Considering Patient Satisfaction
  • Trend Toward Episodic Payments
  • Concierge Medicine in a Frail Economy
  • Alternative Revenue Streams
  • PCP Shortage and Continuity of Care
  • Effect of Retail Clinics on ER Use
  • Federal Health Reserve
• Glossary
• For More Information
• About the Authors