Writing Planning Worksheet

1. What is the public policy topic you have chosen from this week’s
readings and lectures? Choose a topic that presents a problem in this
policy area.
Market Consolidation of the healthcare industry

2. What is the problem?
– vertical and horizontal consolidation of many segments of the

healthcare industry
– consolidation increases prices and fails to improve the quality of care

3. What is the impact of the problem, and who does it affect?
– for example, insurers acquiring physician practices and other

providers or pharmacy benefit managers acquiring pharmacies and
drug manufacturers

– hospitals’ acquisitions of physicians’ practices, insurers’ acquisitions
of physician practices, other providers, and pharmaceutical benefit
managers (PBMs), and pharmacies integrating with PBMs

4. What solution could you recommend? The solution can be an
original idea, or you may use a previously-proposed solution, as long
as you credit the author.

– the administration has increased budgets for the Federal Trade
Commission and U.S. Department of Justice, adjusted standards for
future mergers, and barred noncompete clauses

– closely evaluate and require healthcare entities to report
merger-and-acquisition activities

5. Who is your audience? (Is this an educated audience? It makes a
difference in how you write.)

Policy maker and educated audience who potentially work in the medical
industry and has been affected by the new policy/consolidation

https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2022/01/2022-congressio
nal-outlook-and-top-10-federal-health-policy-issues

https://hbr.org/2021/03/the-pandemic-will-fuel-consolidation-in-u-s-health
-care