Bill Overview
Title: Competition in State Healthcare Markets Act
Description: This bill temporarily requires studies on licensing of health care professionals, mergers and acquisitions of health care entities (e.g., hospitals and health insurance companies), and other matters affecting health care competition and consolidation at the state level. For 10 years following the bill's enactment, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation within the Department of Health and Human Services must annually carry out the studies. The office must consult with the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission on the studies.
Sponsors: Rep. Spartz, Victoria [R-IN-5]
Target Audience
Population: People impacted by changes in competition and consolidation in healthcare
Estimated Size: 330000000
- This bill impacts healthcare professionals as it involves studies on their licensing, which may lead to changes in their professional requirements.
- Healthcare entities such as hospitals and health insurance companies will be directly impacted due to studies on mergers and acquisitions, affecting their operations and market strategies.
- Patients and general healthcare consumers will potentially be impacted as changes in healthcare competition and consolidation can affect healthcare costs, availability, and quality.
- If the studies lead to regulatory changes, all stakeholders in the healthcare system, including state government bodies responsible for healthcare regulation, could be affected.
- The studies may influence healthcare policy, impacting anyone who interacts with the U.S. healthcare system.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily targets healthcare professionals and entities, which form a significant part of the U.S. economy. While the direct impact on consumers is less immediate, the indirect effects on costs and service availability will influence general wellbeing across the population.
- The policy has a substantial budget, allowing for comprehensive studies. However, the impact on individual wellbeing will vary depending on the person's role in the healthcare system.
- Many healthcare professionals may face uncertainty regarding future licensing requirements, which could affect their job satisfaction and security.
- Potential increases in healthcare competition could lead to decreased costs for consumers, improving access and overall wellbeing for many.
- The long-term impact of regulatory changes resulting from these studies will depend on the findings and subsequent policy decisions.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse Practitioner (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand the need for such studies, but I'm worried about what changes may come to my licensing requirements.
- If the rules change too much, it could affect my job security and the services we can offer at the clinic.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Hospital Administrator (Chicago, IL)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The studies could provide useful data to improve our strategic planning, but mergers and acquisition regulations could limit our growth.
- I'm cautiously optimistic that these changes might benefit our operations and the services we provide.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Health Insurance Analyst (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- These studies might make my job more complex if new regulations come into play, but they could also lead to more competitive rates for our clients.
- I'm curious about how the competition aspect will be measured and addressed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
General Practitioner (Houston, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about how increased competition might affect my practice, possibly leading to lower patient volumes and revenue.
- There's uncertainty on how this policy might influence healthcare costs and practices in general.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope these studies lead to lower healthcare costs and better services under Medicare.
- I wish for more transparency and competition to help reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Healthcare Consultant (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might offer us new opportunities for consulting on competitive strategy and adaptation to new regulations.
- The trends these studies reveal could guide many strategic decisions for our clients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Medical Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- These studies might influence my future career path and the healthcare landscape I will enter.
- Knowing more about healthcare competition can only be a good thing for my future practice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Pharmacist (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The scrutiny on healthcare mergers could influence the pharmacy sector as well, potentially affecting my job security.
- I hope it leads to better pricing and competition, which would be positive for our consumers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Public Health Official (Boston, MA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- From a public health perspective, these studies are crucial for understanding the dynamics of healthcare markets.
- I am optimistic about the potential positive impacts on healthcare policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Patient Advocate (Minneapolis, MN)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about how this might affect our most vulnerable populations, but increased competition might improve access.
- We need these studies to ensure any changes in healthcare markets don't hurt patients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $125000000)
Year 2: $102000000 (Low: $76500000, High: $127000000)
Year 3: $104040000 (Low: $78000000, High: $129000000)
Year 5: $108163000 (Low: $81000000, High: $134000000)
Year 10: $118621500 (Low: $89000000, High: $146000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The complexity of the healthcare market requires comprehensive and multi-dimensional studies to gather meaningful insights.
- Inter-agency collaboration can incur additional coordination complexities and costs.
- Outcomes and insights from these studies will hinge on data availability, quality, and accessibility.
- Potential regulatory resistance or enforcement challenges may affect the applicability of study outcomes.