Seattle | Washington | 2023 | Market Overview Brief
Seattle's healthcare players look for workable solutions to manage revenue shortfalls, pandemic concerns, and shifting payment models in 2021. The technology-focused region responds to many challenges with enhanced data analysis, hoping to gain a clairvoyant edge by predicting and solving problems before they emerge. Virtual care is another emerging trend and payers, including Kaiser Permanente, Premera Blue Cross, and Amazon, offer virtual-based options incorporating telemedicine and care coordination with regular providers. Seattle’s largest integrated delivery networks have the advantage of deeper pockets from their parent organizations, but locally based systems may need to develop tighter affiliations within the market’s large clinically integrated networks to find success. Many providers take on the most financial risk through participation in direct-employer contracts, although Providence Health does not participate in these arrangements and relies on its market clout to gain prominence in insurer networks. IDNs have focused on outpatient growth, although capital investments will shift to telemedicine and home health versus new facilities. Chronic disease management is a priority for employer wellness programs. Plus, IDNs are growing their oncology, cardiac, stroke, and women’s health services with UW Medicine focusing on liver and kidney disease, neurological disorders, and COVID-19 research. Continued consolidation is likely among provider groups and IDNs to achieve the scale to offer more services.