The past numerous weeks have been abuzz with the mergers and acquisitions within the healthcare arena. CVS has bought Aetna for a groovy 69 billion dollars and went via the regulatory manner with flying colorations. Amazon (on their quest for international domination) has teamed up with Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and monetary powerhouse J.P. Morgan to use their assets, affect and electricity to, in keeping with Buffett, "address healthcare fees in our kingdom." Buffet additionally said that due to the fact the U.S., at 18% of our gross domestic product, the U.S. is at a aggressive downside, at 3.3 trillion dollars yearly. He believes the personal sector can cope with healthcare higher than the authorities.

Albertson's, a grocery organisation, is ready to collect retail pharmacy large rite aid. And now, Cigna, the insurance behemoth, is buying express Scripts in a deal for upwards of 50 billion. software giant Apple is dipping their toe into worker fitness, at the same time as matters are starting to rumble at Wal-Mart, the retail monster.

in spite of everything of that records, you need a breather. however will a disruption by way of those corporations be the element that makes healthcare higher within the U.S.?

yet, as a patient propose and caregiver supporter, my principal concern is that this: Will all of this be a win for patients, caregivers and families? you recognize - the healthcare clients?

whilst the shake-up in healthcare is oh-so-lengthy past due, is the aggregate of behemoths the right way?

First, this healthcare shake-up might not be the closing of the behemoths to combine. i would be inclined to guess on that. we have but to hear from the likes of Microsoft, Walgreens, Google or any of the Generals (electric, vehicles, turbines). What about other insurers? in which is Humana or United Healthcare on this recreation?

Many groups will follow fit. it's only a count of time. I liken it to the most popular lady in high faculty getting into a relationship with the maximum famous boy and becoming a pressure to be reckoned with. absolutely everyone will see the trend, its blessings and potential, and bounce into it. Sorry for the excessive school analogy.

The factor is every body sees that it's time for trade in healthcare.

So what is in it for patients/customers?

some thing we should question is this: Are those businesses in it for the billions of greenbacks that healthcare is really worth or do they really want higher situations, value and efficiency for patients? Will the combination of these types of behemoths reach beyond their personnel and meet the needs of all patients in our country? What are their motives?

My undertaking is to empower patients and caregivers to navigate healthcare with a bit of luck and efficiently, to shop them and all parties worried time, money and frustration. I show them that they have rights and duties in their Healthcare journey and need to take a strong and active position of their care. patients are the lifeblood of the healthcare machine.

None of these behemoth mixtures can be a hit without patient/client buy-in. they'd better positioned all in their goals into a pleasant and useful bundle for patients so that they sense supported and empowered. If these companies can display how the patient will be helped and the way their alliances can keep cash for all events worried, they need to don't have any problem inside the regulatory techniques they face.

but I implore all of you behemoths... DO some thing.

Do something for the sixty four% of american citizens who avoid getting care due to the fact they may be afraid of the costs.

Do some thing for the working bad who make an excessive amount of for Medicaid and no longer enough to have enough money skyrocketing healthcare rates.

Do some thing that suggests how healthcare can genuinely be inexpensive and in which carrier expenses do now not must be immoderate.

Do something to empower patients and set up actual healthcare cost transparency.

do something positive about real care and machine methods to expose that it does not need to be as hard or time-eating as it's miles presently.

You behemoths have the strength to exchange healthcare for the higher for the foreseeable future and in all likelihood, for all time. Please don't appearance down from your Ivory Towers upon us mere mortals and pity us or desire for the fine. Do something.

Make it a win for patients, and all of us will win.

i'm Tiffany Matthews. I empower patients & caregivers to manage healthcare & eldercare efficaciously even as saving time, money & strain. company and employee well being programs are to be had as properly to assist with a business' backside line and productiveness.