Latest news with #valuebasedcare
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights CVS Health, BrightSpring Health Services and GeneDx
Chicago, IL – June 17, 2025 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses CVS Health CVS, BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. BTSG and GeneDx Holdings Corp. WGS. Link: The Medical Services sector is experiencing significant transformation fueled by advancements in technology, increased adoption of value-based care and focus on patient-centric solutions and precision medicine. Rising demand for remote treatment is accelerating digital healthcare growth, especially in telemedicine and AI-powered analytics. Providers are using these tools to improve diagnostics, streamline operations, and enhance outcomes, while value-based models promote preventive and personalized care. According to a Precedence Research report, the global healthcare analytics market was valued at $53.1 billion in 2024 and is projected to witness a CAGR of 21.4% from 2025 to 2034, benefiting payers, professionals, and patients with advanced insights and services. Stocks like CVS Health, BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. and GeneDx Holdings Corp. are poised to benefit from this shift. Meanwhile, as the U.S. healthcare system faces post-pandemic pressure, shifting payer mix and labor shortages, demand for skilled nursing professionals is surging. A 2024 Mercer report projects a shortfall of over 100,000 healthcare workers by 2028, including 73,000 nursing assistants. This will elevate labor costs, though tech-driven care models are driving new, specialized roles. The Zacks Medical Services industry comprises third-party service providers and caregivers appointed by core healthcare companies for economies of scale. The industry includes pharmacy benefit managers, contract research organizations, wireless MedTech companies, third-party testing labs, surgical facility providers and healthcare workforce solution providers, among others. Over the years, this industry has strategically moved from volume-based to value-based care. The resurgence in medical tourism is further boosting the sector. This changing pattern of care calls for advanced facilities, thus increasing the need to appoint specialized external service providers. With the growing importance of effective healthcare management, the medical service industry has become an integral part of the modern healthcare system. The adoption of digital platforms within the medical device space is gaining prominence in the United States. A 2024 digital health market report by Statista suggests that this market will witness a 9.2% CAGR from 2024 to 2028. The increasing availability of unstructured health data, advanced analytics and the demand for personalized medical services underscore the growing importance of big data in healthcare. According to a Roots Analysis report, the global big data in healthcare market size is estimated to increase from $78 billion in 2024 to $540 billion by 2035, representing a CAGR of 19.20%. Other reports suggest that companies that adopted artificial intelligence technologies witnessed a 50% reduction in treatment costs and experienced more than 50% improvement in patient outcomes. : The lingering impact of COVID-19 as a global health emergency has driven many frontline workers to exit the field. Added to this, a drastic increase in the aging population in recent times (about 10,000 individuals aged 59-77 are joining Medicare plans daily) has made the healthcare staffing shortage more pronounced. According to McKinsey, while the global economy could generate 40 million new healthcare jobs by 2030, a significant gap remains. WHO projects a shortfall of 9.9 million physicians, nurses, and midwives worldwide over the same period, highlighting the urgent need for workforce expansion in health systems. Needless to say, this supply shortage has led to a significant rise in healthcare wages. Going by an HR for Health report, increased labor costs and staffing challenges have resulted in a rise in hospital expenses. Hospitals have experienced a 15.6% increase in labor expenses per adjusted discharge compared to pre-pandemic levels. : In 2025, the role of nurses continues to evolve with advancements in medical technologies and shifts in healthcare delivery models. Telehealth and remote patient monitoring have expanded nurses' reach beyond traditional hospital settings, enabling them to provide care in rural or underserved areas. Specialized nursing roles, such as nurse practitioners, critical care specialists and geriatric nurses, are in high demand due to the growing complexity of patient needs. Going by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners is projected to grow 40% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 31,900 openings for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners are projected each year, on average, over the decade. The Zacks Medical Services industry falls within the broader Zacks Medical sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #67, which places it in the top 27% of 245 Zacks industries. The group's Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates flourishing near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. We will present a few stocks that have the potential to outperform the market based on a strong earnings outlook. But it's worth taking a look at the industry's shareholder returns and current valuation first. The Medical Services Industry has underperformed its sector and the S&P 500 over the past year. The stocks in this industry have collectively lost 13.4% during the said time frame compared with the Medical sector's 12% dip and the S&P 500 composite's surge of 10.6%. On the basis of forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E), which is commonly used for valuing medical stocks, the industry is currently trading at 14.6X compared with the S&P 500's 21.9X and the sector's 19.3X. Over the last five years, the industry has traded as high as 20.12X, as low as 13.4X, and at the median of 14.6X. Below, we present three stocks from the Medical Services industry that have been witnessing positive earnings estimate revisions and carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. GeneDx: This genomics company provides genetic testing services. It primarily offers pediatric and rare disease diagnostics with a focus on whole-exome and genome sequencing, as well as data and information services. The company is also developing an AI-based platform for NGS analysis, interpretation, and clinical reporting for rare disease, hereditary risk, and cancer testing. This Zacks Rank #1 stock's 2025 expected earnings growth rate is 336%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WGS' 2025 revenues indicates a rise of 22.5% from 2024. CVS: It is a pharmacy innovation company with integrated offerings across the entire spectrum of pharmacy care. CVS Health is investing in advanced technological capabilities to cut down costs and improve customer experience. Improved Medicare Advantage star ratings for the 2025 payment year are a positive development for the company. CVS Health's 2025 and 2026 earnings growth rates are pegged at 12.6% and 14.3%, respectively. CVS has a long-term expected earnings growth rate of 11.4%. The stock holds a Zacks Rank #2 currently. BrightSpring: The company operates as a home and community-based healthcare services platform in the United States. BrightSpring is delivering significant improvements in care quality across its diversified service portfolio, boosting stakeholders' and investors' sentiment. In Home Health, over 80% of branches are now rated 4 stars or higher, with the 60-day hospitalization rate continuing to decline. BrightSpring's 2025 expected earnings growth rate is 82.1%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BTSG's 2025 revenues indicates a rise of 9.1% over 2024. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. See Stocks Free >> Join us on Facebook: Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@ Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CVS Health Corporation (CVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report GeneDx Holdings Corp. (WGS) : Free Stock Analysis Report BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. (BTSG) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Motive Medical Intelligence Partners with Amendola on Thought Leadership Program
Partnership to elevate awareness of Motive's groundbreaking physician-level performance measures, value-based care leadership SAN FRANCISCO and SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Motive Medical Intelligence (Motive), a leading healthcare data and analytics company advancing physician-level performance and value-based care, today announced that it has selected Amendola, part of Supreme Group, to create and lead its integrated public relations and thought leadership program. Amendola will spotlight Motive's Practicing Wisely solution and position the company's experts to expand its reach across the healthcare industry. "At Motive, we're reimagining how evidenced-based healthcare data can empower physicians and transform care delivery," said Jeanne Cohen, CEO and Founder of Motive Medical Intelligence. "To bring that vision to life at scale, we knew we needed a communications partner who shares our passion for innovation and understands the broader impact of value-based care. Amendola stood out for their strategic insight, storytelling excellence, and deep roots in healthcare. Together, we're not just raising awareness—we're building momentum for real change in the industry." Practicing Wisely is the only clinical analytics system designed to evaluate performance and improvements at physician and group levels using Appropriateness of Care, Quality, and Waste measures across 18 specialties as well as primary care and pediatrics. It is widely used by top payers and providers committed to reducing low-value services and advancing value-based care. "Motive is redefining how the healthcare industry understands and improves clinical performance to drive the healthcare ecosystem's commitment to value-based care," said Jodi Amendola, president of Amendola. "The healthcare industry is ripe for broader adoption of the Practicing Wisely system, which is the result of deep clinical and technical expertise." Amendola added, "Now is the time to showcase the Motive team's powerful work, expertise, and thought leadership to guide the industry to the future. Motive is exactly the kind of visionary client we're proud to support." About Practicing WiselyThe proprietary solution is powered by technology that delivers defensible, auditable insights based on clinical guidelines and evidence. Every measure is delivered with clear rationale, supporting materials such as clinical guides and evidence, and engagement strategies to foster physician and group improvement to build payer-provider trust. It is designed to support, not penalize, physicians, while helping all healthcare stakeholders align around shared goals in value-based care. About Motive Medical IntelligenceMotive is redefining healthcare performance analytics with an emphasis on transparency, physician trust, and real-world actionability. With nearly 30 years of experience and no direct competitors matching its scope or precision, Motive is the partner of choice for organizations committed to eliminating low-value care and thriving in value-based care models. Through its proprietary Practicing Wisely solution, Motive is helping the industry eliminate the $390 billion in annual waste in the U.S. health system, advancing the transition to high-value, patient-centered care, and achieving the quadruple aim. Learn more here. About AmendolaAmendola, part of Supreme Group, is an award-winning, insights-driven public relations and marketing firm that integrates media relations, social media, content, and lead gen programs to move healthcare, life sciences/pharma and healthcare IT decision-makers to action. The agency represents some of the industry's best-known brands as well as groundbreaking startups disrupting the status quo. Nearly 90% of its client base represents multi-year clients and/or repeat client executives. Amendola's seasoned team of PR and marketing pros understand the ongoing complexities of the healthcare ecosystem and provide strategic guidance and creative direction to drive positive ROI, boost reputation and increase market share. Making an impact since 2003, Amendola combines traditional and digital media to fuel meaningful and measurable growth. For more information about the industry's "A-Team," visit this website and follow us on LinkedIn. Media Contact: Marcia Rhodes/mrhodes@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Amendola, part of Supreme Group Sign in to access your portfolio
Globe and Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
UnitedHealth's Medical Membership Rises: Can It Maintain the Momentum?
UnitedHealth Group Inc UNH is witnessing robust growth in its medical membership, reflecting a strong demand for both commercial and government-supported health plans. In 2023, the company served 47.2 million people in the United States, which increased 5% year over year in 2024, followed by 2% growth in the first quarter of 2025 to 50.1 million. As of March 31, 2025, UnitedHealthcare served around 780,000 consumers. One of the major driving factors of this growth is UnitedHealth's vertically integrated strategy. This strategy brings together its insurance unit, UnitedHealthcare, with its care delivery and pharmacy services through the Optum unit. By providing coordinated, value-based care, the company has been able to attract both seniors and those enrolled in employer-sponsored plans. However, UNH had to suspend its full-year guidance due to unexpectedly high medical costs in the Medicare Advantage segment in the first quarter of 2025. The return of its new CEO, Steve Hemsley, indicates a strong focus on operations, improved pricing, adjusted risk and improved care coordination. Membership numbers are on the rise, but to keep that sustainable, it will require careful planning and tighter control over costs. With the 2026 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rate increase on the way and a changing competitive environment, the company has to find a way to balance between growing and staying profitable. How are Competitors Faring? Some of UNH's major competitors in the healthcare plan provider space are Humana Inc. HUM and Elevance Health, Inc. ELV. Humana's total medical membership of the insurance segment declined 8.3% year over year in the first quarter of 2025 to 14.8 million. Humana anticipates Individual Medicare Advantage membership to witness a decline of around 550,000 in 2025. Its rising costs are concerning. Elevance Health's total medical membership witnessed a decline of 0.5% year over year in the first quarter of 2025 to 45.8 million. Elevance Health forecast medical enrollment between 45.8 and 46.7 million in 2025. Its rising costs are concerning. UnitedHealth's Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates Shares of UNH have declined 39.3% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry 's fall of 29.2%. From a valuation standpoint, UnitedHealth trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 12.58, above the industry average of 11.58. UNH carries a Value Score of B. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UnitedHealth's 2025 earnings implies an 18.7% drop from the year-ago period's actual. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double" Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest. This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%. Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH): Free Stock Analysis Report Humana Inc. (HUM): Free Stock Analysis Report Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV): Free Stock Analysis Report
Fast Company
09-06-2025
- Health
- Fast Company
Value-based care: How good ideas get crushed
Remember when value-based care was going to revolutionize American healthcare? A decade later, we're still waiting while costs keep climbing. What happened? Simple—the healthcare industrial complex did what it always does: absorbed innovative ideas and neutralized them. Healthcare innovation follows a predictable pattern. A promising new model emerges, gains traction, then gets swallowed by the system, transforming from disruptor to just another profit center for middlemen. THE TRAP Value-based care has an elegant premise: pay providers for patient outcomes, not service volume. Better care, at a price aligned with value—what's not to love? Yet, instead of replacing fee-for-service arrangements, value-based programs were simply added alongside existing arrangements. Since the majority of patients remained under fee-for-service arrangements, value-based protocols resulted in creating even more administrative complexity, not less. In fact, after years of value-based experiments, health spending continues to rise faster than inflation. In 2023, the average annual premium for employer-sponsored family health coverage reached $23,968, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In 2024, it climbed to $25,572. That's a year-over-year increase of 7%. Meanwhile, the share that members are responsible for paying through deductibles, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket costs has grown at a similar pace. WHY MODELS THAT BYPASS THE SYSTEM SUCCEED This country is home to some amazing doctors and nurses, but they are trapped in a broken system that forces them to spend time checking boxes for 'quality metrics' rather than caring for patients. And here's the fascinating part—healthcare innovations that completely circumvent traditional payment models are thriving. Take direct primary care, which is booming because it eliminates the middleman entirely. Providers charge transparent monthly subscription fees directly to patients or employers, cutting out insurance companies altogether. In 2023, 9% of doctors surveyed by the American Academy of Family Physicians reported using a direct primary care model, with an additional 2% reporting they were in the process of transitioning. This represents a staggering increase from the 2% of physicians who reported they operated a DPC model the prior year. According to a 2023 study published in Health Affairs, administrative waste comprises between 7.5% and 15% of total U.S. healthcare spending, equivalent to $285 billion to $570 billion annually. Research shows the U.S. spends $1,055 per capita on healthcare administrative costs, more than triple what the next highest nation (Germany) spends. This money isn't going to better care; it's being absorbed by middlemen. If you're writing massive monthly checks to insurance companies, here are three actions to take right now: 1. Demand complete data transparency. Your company's healthcare data belongs to you. Period. Make raw claims data non-negotiable in your next carrier contract. Perform a healthcare spending audit—you'll be shocked at how little reaches actual care providers. 2. Build direct provider relationships. Identify high-volume providers used by your employees and reach out about direct contracting. Start with a pilot for specific services like imaging, lab work, or primary care. 3. Consider alternative payment models. Look into alternatives like employer–direct contracting, payment clearing platforms, HSAs with smart routing, point-of-sale payments, or direct primary care. Even partial implementation of these models can save 15%-20% while improving care access. BREAKING THE CYCLE The healthcare industry is brilliant at absorbing potentially disruptive innovations. It's why hospital systems now own 'disruptive' urgent care centers, and insurance giants have purchased 'innovative' telehealth platforms. But direct payment models succeed by operating outside this absorption cycle entirely. They're structurally resistant to being co-opted because they fundamentally change how money flows. As employers, we need to stop waiting for the system to fix itself. By demanding transparency, building direct provider relationships, and implementing streamlined payment models, we can create the healthcare system our employees deserve—one that delivers better care at lower costs without the bloated bureaucracy.
Associated Press
20-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Pharmacy Quality Solutions (PQS) by Innovaccer Launches EQUIPP Copilot™, Industry-First Zero-Click Intelligent Platform to Empower Pharmacies in Value-Based, Collaborative Care
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 2025-- Pharmacy Quality Solutions (PQS), an Innovaccer company and leader in pharmacy-payer performance technology, today announced the launch of EQUIPP Copilot ™, the industry's first workflow-integrated intelligence platform designed to help pharmacies expand clinical services, boost productivity, and connect seamlessly with the broader healthcare ecosystem. By embedding real-time insights and automation directly into daily pharmacy operations, EQUIPP Copilot ™ redefines how pharmacists engage in value-based care, care coordination, and patient outcomes, without disrupting their workflow. The announcement was made at the Pharmacy Quality Alliance Annual Meeting where EQUIPP Copilot ™ was introduced as the industry's first AI-enabled real-time digital copilot designed to help pharmacies participate in value-based care (VBC) and enhance operational efficiency. 'Community pharmacies are on the front lines of the value-based care evolution,' said Todd Sega, Managing Director, Pharmacy, Innovaccer. 'They face mounting pressures in the core, historical business model of dispensing medications, while needing to diversify and focus on value and patient care services in a changing payer and provider landscape. EQUIPP Copilot ™ meets this moment by delivering exactly what pharmacists need: real-time guidance and automation woven into their day-to-day workflow. It's like having a digital assistant in the pharmacy system, surfacing actionable insights and automating tasks so teams can spend more time on patients and growing revenue through clinical services.' Pharmacies are increasingly expected to support clinical initiatives and participate in value-based care programs, but often lack the tools to do so efficiently. EQUIPP Copilot ™ solves this by embedding actionable intelligence and automation directly into their workflow, streamlining tasks, eliminating administrative burden, and enhancing patient outcomes. Unlike standalone apps or portals, EQUIPP Copilot ™ overlays Pharmacy Management Systems (PMSs), using smart pop-ups, embedded alerts, and intelligent task automation to guide pharmacists through quality interventions at the point of care. The key innovations of EQUIPP Copilot ™ include: 'Pharmacies are one of the most underutilized assets in value-based care,' said Abhinav Shashank, CEO of Innovaccer. 'By embedding intelligence and automation directly into their daily workflow, EQUIPP Copilot ™ turns every pharmacy into a proactive care hub. This is a key step toward a more connected, collaborative healthcare system, one where data drives smarter decisions and better outcomes at every touchpoint.' The launch of EQUIPP Copilot ™ arrives as pharmacies face growing pressure to expand their clinical roles amid staffing constraints, shifting incentives, and the decentralization of care. The solution is purpose-built to support independent pharmacies, chains and health plans seeking scalable, real-time engagement tools. EQUIPP Copilot ™ pre-registrations are open now with general availability in Q3 2025. The platform is offered to existing customers via a flexible freemium model, with advanced capabilities available à la carte to fit pharmacies of all sizes and needs. About PQS by Innovaccer PQS by Innovaccer aligns healthcare payers and pharmacies to achieve their shared goals of better patient outcomes and healthcare quality performance. As a neutral, trusted intermediary supporting the evolution of value-based care, PQS facilitates nationwide pharmacy-based care through our partners and the EQUIPP ® platform. Utilizing deep clinical pharmacy knowledge and over a decade of performance management experience, we help clients develop strategies, implement quality improvement programs, and optimize the quality of healthcare for their populations served. For more information on how PQS can support you, please visit View source version on CONTACT: Press Contact: Arushi Awasthi Innovaccer Inc. [email protected] 415-562-2139 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE MANAGED CARE GENERAL HEALTH PHARMACEUTICAL DATA MANAGEMENT PAYMENTS APPS/APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY HOSPITALS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PRACTICE MANAGEMENT HEALTH SOURCE: Innovaccer Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/20/2025 08:15 AM/DISC: 05/20/2025 08:14 AM
