Physicians cited affordability and access to healthcare as the top concerns for the industry in a new survey. And they’re more concerned about these issues in 2020 compared to 2019.
That’s according to the fifth annual healthcare industry report from InCrowd, which polled 200 generalists and specialists between Dec. 30, 2019 and Jan. 2, 2020.
“Over half of respondents ranked affordable therapies and wider access as the leading priorities they’d like to see addressed in 2020, a statistically significant increase from 2019,” Daniel S. Fitzgerald, CEO and president of InCrowd, said in a statement. “What’s interesting about this year’s data is that we’re seeing less emphasis on the importance of bringing innovative, new therapies to market faster, often too costly and out of reach for patients, with only one in five prioritizing it, versus expanding affordability, which was nearly a unanimous top priority for respondents.”
In addition to be worried about the affordability and access of healthcare, physicians were also feeling more cynical about the healthcare system. Of note, 30% believed drug prices would keep rising in 2020––the highest figure in the survey’s history since 2016.
Just 22% of respondents said bringing new therapies to market faster was important this year, compared to 96% who said expanding affordability and 52% who said improving wider access to available therapies.
A whopping 80% said the Affordable Care Act will continue to be defunded, though 74% believe it will remain in place despite legal challenges. That’s up from 60% who believed the healthcare law would remain in 2019.
Physicians were also pessimistic that universal healthcare would come to fruition––just 18% expect it to materialize in 2020. Fortunately, two-thirds of physicians see opioid addictions stabilizing or declining.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."