http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/4-forces-that-will-influence-medical-cost-trends-in-2017/421162/

The healthcare industry is in a transformational period. The rising use of retail clinics, MACRA, population health efforts and the Medicare Part B demonstration are but a few examples of disruptive conversations being had in board rooms. Yet, all of these discussions are underscored by the one topic underlying most business conversations: the almighty dollar.

There’s a push and pull between healthcare services utilization and narrow networks focusing on value that could shift the medical cost growth rate in future years. “When medical growth outpaces general inflation, a flat trend is not good enough,” the report states.

“As a result, 2017 will be a tough balancing act for the health industry,” the report states, adding, “Healthcare organizations must simultaneously increase access to consumer friendly services while decreasing unit cost. Employers, worried that this current trend is at an inflection point that could turn back up, will demand more value from the health industry.”