ABSTRACT. This paper examines the future of U.S. healthcare industry. The paper identifies a collection of unprecedented forces that will dramatically reshape industry boundaries, structures, and practices over the next two decades. Key findings include: 1) Regulatory and legislative policy uncertainty raises questions about the long-term relevance of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), 2) industry transformation will be marked by significant and protracted structural changes as innovations in digital technologies, health sciences, health consumer engagement and medical practices play out, 3) regulatory directives and care delivery objectives will drive increased industry transparency, information sharing, and collaboration, 4) advances in genomics will reconceptualize disease typologies, diagnostic tools, and therapies, and, 5) a heightened emphasis on the quality of the health consumer experience will push policy makers and care providers to reform business models and industry economics. The paper concludes with implications and recommendations. pp. 7–52

Keywords: U.S. healthcare industry; Affordable Care Act (ACA); technology

How to cite: Vitalari, Nicholas P. (2016), “Prospects for the Future of the U.S. Healthcare Industry: A Speculative Analysis,” American Journal of Medical Research 3(2): 7–52.

Received 26 September 2015 • Received in revised form 22 March 2016
Accepted 28 March 2016 • Available online 20 April 2016

doi:10.22381/AJMR3220161