What happens next: 10 non-COVID health care predictions for 2021

Excellent afternoon, readers.

We’ve had an annual custom these days right here on the Pill: That includes the sage knowledge and insights of Venrock companions Bob Kocher and Bryan Roberts, a duo of veteran well being care traders, on what the approaching 12 months holds for the business.

Bob and Bryan were sharing their ideas with us for years and, as peculiar and chaotic as 2020 used to be, this 12 months is not any other.

For the 2021 version in their crystal ball-gazing, the pair be offering up 10 predictions for the approaching 12 months. And in a twist, they span necessary scientific subjects and traits that don’t all need to do with COVID.

The overall record is right here. However listed below are some selection alternatives:

Digital maintain Medicare takes to the air

Whilst there don’t seem to be many silver linings to COVID-19, one get advantages has been the dramatic building up in telemedicine adoption. Medicare is protecting telemedicine for the primary time on an emergency foundation.

We predict Medicare will make telemedicine protection everlasting. This may increasingly result in seniors, very similar to millennials, who prefer telemedicine to in-person visits for far in their care.

Contemporary proof and an explosion of telemedicine use all the way through the pandemic definitely helps that prediction.

No motion on drug pricing

With the promise of more than one COVID-19 vaccines being invented and delivered to marketplace in document time, public opinion will flip very sure for pharmaceutical firms. This may increasingly squash all efforts to control drug costs for the following 12 months (no less than).

And naturally, no predictions record could be whole with out an Amazon shoutout…

Amazon pharmacy features traction

We now have been perennially skeptical of giant tech gaining traction in healthcare. One exception is Amazon’s new pharmacy.

We predict that Amazon will acquire traction since COVID-19 has resulted in dramatically extra eCommerce for all issues and made pharmacies comparable to nursing houses: frightening puts to consult with since they’re full of in poor health and most likely COVID-19 contagious other folks.

Amazon’s client accept as true with, fantastic supply pace, and occasional costs will let them take significant percentage from retail pharmacies.

Get extra insights from Bob and Bryan right here, learn on for the day’s information, and notice you subsequent week.

Sy Mukherjee
[email protected] News.com
@the_sy_guy