In the next 10 years, people will receive healthcare at home, online, when and how they need it, payer executives told Becker's.
Becker's asked 19 executives what the next decade holds for the payer industry — here's what a few had to say about the future of care delivery.
Tenbit Emiru, MD, PhD, executive vice president and chief medical officer of Minneapolis-based UCare, said there have been significant advances in technology to provide treatment and support services for members in the past few years.
"More is anticipated in areas of interactive member engagement, use of augmented reality in treatment and therapy, AI in health coaching programs, home-based monitoring and other services such as virtual assistants to support members receive care and live healthily longer in their homes and communities," Dr. Emiru said.
Matthew McGinnis, vice president of data and analytics strategy at Evernorth, said the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated innovation in virtual care, but access to care continues to be a challenge for many.
"To solve this issue, payers will need to embrace digital and virtual care options to meet their customers where they are, giving them access to convenient and affordable care, across medical, behavioral, pharmacy and other services," Mr. McGinnis said. "This shift will in turn create new and greater data that if leveraged appropriately, will enable more coordinated and seamless care for customers and patients."
Chanin Wendling, senior director of clinical operations at Contigo Health in Charlotte, N.C., said more providers will launch their own health plans in the next decade — which will change how care is delivered.
"[Launching health plans] will allow them to better balance overall finances to improve focus on preventive care, outreach, and care at home. These programs can reduce revenue on the provider side, but that can be offset by a reduction in claims on the payer side," Ms. Wendling said.