With a theme of Bolder and Brighter, the 2023 ACHE Congress spotlighted the radically changed “post pandemic” healthcare delivery landscape. Over 5,000 healthcare professionals convened in Chicago from March 20–23rd to recognize leaders in the field and gain a deeper understanding of the trends shaping their careers and care delivery—health equity, staffing challenges, the blurring of payors and providers, digital health and more.
The ACHE 2023 Congress was a bit of a homecoming for me. My first ACHE Congress was in 1993, as a soon-to-be minted MHA/MBA. Having spent the better part of 30 years focused on Health IT strategy and optimization, it afforded the opportunity to see today’s challenges—and promises—from the lens of front-line health system executives. Across the 150 sessions, key themes, including those below, emerged:
Healthcare Staffing Woes Are Pervasive—and Perpetual
Struggles to attract, retain and care for physicians and staff are long-term problems. Burnout, aging out and the talent exodus are crucial topics for every health delivery organization. Today’s nursing shortage estimates range from 450,000 to 1.1 million. Thus, stemming the losses in experienced talent and rebuilding the workforce will take decades. Further, it’ll impair delivery organization’s financial health and potentially care delivery.
Emerging Leaders Embody Health Equity
Health equity has surfaced as a key strategy across the private and public sectors. Consequently, most ACHE Congress sessions wove in health equity. Deloitte presented research estimating the cost of inequities is $320B today—and as much as $1 trillion by 2040. Imagine what society could do to better care for every person with those funds.
Gains in health equity will be fostered through many factors, including diversity in the health system executives, and it was encouraging to witness the diversity of emerging leaders in attendance. The visible broadening demographics of this elite cohort in 30 years is remarkable. Greater leadership diversity— racial, ethnic and otherwise—enables contemporary and future leaders to bring the richness of their backgrounds and cultures to their careers, their organizations and the patients whom they serve.
Disruptive “Co-Opetition”
In the seemingly short span since Amazon, Apple, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart entered healthcare full force, we are marking a turning point in how traditional health systems and these “disruptors” co-exist. Five years ago, health systems were in a reactive, competitive stance, with most focused on protecting market share. The message from ACHE 2023, reflected in numerous sessions, was about collaboration to improve access to care and outcomes, and align incentives. In today’s leading organizations, retail and virtual visit are thought of as complementary to traditional services.
Soujanya Pulluru, MD, from Walmart Health noted the majority of Walmart stores are in HRSA-designated underserved areas and how they are working with communities to improve access and care. Leveraging the proximity of the stores and the trusted relationships of the pharmacists, Walmart Health is expanding Value Based Care arrangements and serving as telehealth and/or primary care capacity extenders for some health systems.
Healthcare Financing Upheaval
In his session “Payer Perspectives—Trends, Affordability and Navigating What’s Next” Matthew Eyles, President of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) profiled shifts in insurance coverage. This included the continued rapid uptake in Medicare Advantage which will soon eclipse 50% of all beneficiaries, and Value Based Care programs continue to gain momentum.
Eyles also warned of significant near-term challenges ahead. For example, the unwinding of Public Health Emergency (PHE) will have huge impact on health systems and insurers. More than 92 million Medicaid enrollees will require coverage redetermination within a 90-day period using paper processes. Additionally, the end of the PHE will affect digital services like telehealth and other care innovations. These changes and reductions in coverage will exacerbate existing health and care inequities.
Going Forward
Although healthcare faces no shortage of headwinds, the spirit of the ACHE 2023 Congress remained optimistic. Further, the attendees are looking forward with an eye on innovation and evolution. One keynote quoted Gandhi in saying “The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Those convened at the event represented the best in committed servant leaders.
Read more about Pivot Point Consulting’s IT Advisory services to see how we help organizations navigate these challenges and contribute to a bolder and brighter future.
