Good afternoon, readers.
We’ve had an annual custom as of late right here on the Capsule: 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 yr holds for the business.
Bob and Bryan have been sharing their ideas with us for years and, as unusual and chaotic as 2020 was, this yr isn’t any totally different.
For the 2021 version of their crystal ball-gazing, the pair provide up 10 predictions for the approaching yr. And in a twist, they span vital medical subjects and developments that don’t all need to do with COVID.
The total checklist is right here. However listed here are some selection choices:
Digital look after Medicare takes off
Whereas there will not be many silver linings to COVID-19, one profit has been the dramatic improve in telemedicine adoption. Medicare is masking telemedicine for the primary time on an emergency foundation.
We predict Medicare will make telemedicine protection everlasting. This can result in seniors, just like millennials, preferring telemedicine to in-person visits for a lot of their care.
Current proof and an explosion of telemedicine use through the pandemic actually helps that prediction.
No motion on drug pricing
With the promise of a number of COVID-19 vaccines being invented and dropped at market in file time, public opinion will flip very constructive for pharmaceutical firms. This can squash all efforts to control drug costs for the following yr (a minimum of).
And naturally, no predictions checklist could be full with out an Amazon shoutout…
Amazon pharmacy beneficial properties traction
Now we have been perennially skeptical of huge tech gaining traction in healthcare. One exception is Amazon’s new pharmacy.
We predict that Amazon will acquire traction since COVID-19 has led to dramatically extra eCommerce for all issues and made pharmacies akin to nursing houses: scary locations to go to since they’re full of sick and probably COVID-19 contagious folks.
Amazon’s client belief, unimaginable supply pace, and low costs will enable them to take significant share from retail pharmacies.
Get extra insights from Bob and Bryan right here, learn on for the day’s information, and see you subsequent week.
Sy Mukherjee
[email protected]
@the_sy_guy
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