Uncertainty is anathema to the world of business and finance, and one need only look at the major stock indices to know that certainty is in short supply of late.<\/p>\n
As the new administration in the United States sets about radically reshaping the size and scope of government, companies and investors are recalibrating their strategies amid a fast-changing and often unpredictable policy environment. In our recent webinar with Fierce Pharma, Stirred and Shaken: How a new administration will change the U.S. healthcare market<\/em><\/a>, we polled the audience (n=400+) about what policy uncertainties were of most concern to them.<\/p>\n The number one item, cited by more than a third of viewers (35%), was shifts in insurance coverage. With Elon Musk\u2019s Department of Government Efficiency reportedly \u00a0talking of rooting out fraud<\/a> in entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicaid and Republicans in Congress eyeing those programs for <\/a>$880 billion in savings, some states are moving to add work requirements to Medicaid<\/a>. Critics worry that this could lead to a substantial increase in the number of uninsured Americans, adversely impacting access to care. A recent analysis by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation estimated<\/a> that as many as 5.2 million adults could lose Medicaid coverage due to difficulty navigating these rules.<\/p>\n For its part, The White House has said<\/a> that \u201cThe Trump administration will not cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the Medicare picture. President Trump\u2019s nominee to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Dr. Mehmet Oz, has in the past advocated for privately-run Medicare Advantage plans. However, he recently criticized<\/a> those plans for charging the government more than traditional Medicare.<\/p>\n Equal numbers of respondents (15%) expressed concern about three critical policy areas:<\/p>\n Sweeping cuts to National Institutes of Health grants<\/a> wasn\u2019t on our radar when we designed our poll but seems likely to have a substantial impact on drug R&D over the medium-to-long term. Similarly, enormous workforce reductions<\/a> at federal health agencies could affect drug approval timelines and much else. We will be convening panel discussions on these and other topics in the coming months.<\/p>\n For healthcare businesses, staying informed and adaptable is crucial. Engaging with policymakers, participating in industry discussions, and leveraging data-driven insights can help organizations navigate these uncertainties and continue to deliver quality care.<\/p>\n Clarivate data, solutions and expertise can help companies stay ahead of the curve and mitigate the impact of uncertainty. Learn more about how Clarivate commercial consulting services<\/a> help life science companies navigate a fast-changing landscape to deliver innovative treatments to patients.<\/p>\nThe covered lives question mark<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Policy uncertainty<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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The unknown unknowns<\/strong><\/h3>\n