Leavitt Partners Releases Updated Health Reform Bracketology, an Analysis of 2012 U.S. Elections and the Future of Health Reform

Leavitt Partners Releases Updated Health Reform Bracketology, an Analysis of 2012 U.S. Elections and the Future of Health Reform

<0> Leavitt PartnersNatalie Gochnour, 801-509-1198 </0>

Leavitt Partners today released 12 potential health reform scenarios based on the impending outcome of the 2012 U.S. elections. The scenarios, which are a product of a tool called Health Reform Bracketology, depict what could happen to public entitlement programs, insurance market reforms, insurance distribution and payment and delivery reform under three distinct election scenarios: Democrat gridlock, Republican gridlock and Republican sweep. The scenarios provide valuable health care intelligence that will help health care leaders navigate the significant uncertainty that exists in American health care.

“An already unclear health care environment is made even more uncertain by the 2012 elections,” said Leavitt Partners’ CEO Rich McKeown. “Health Reform Bracketology breaks the uncertainty down into manageable assumptions and implications about the future. Leavitt Partners does not know, nor does the firm advocate, any particular future. Our firm does identify possible futures and analyze what they mean to the business of health care. The results are instructive and provide a window to the future of health care.”

The analysis, available at , is organized in a simple user interface patterned after the brackets used in a sporting competition. It allows users to select from these election outcomes:

Then within each election scenario there is a breakdown of For each category Leavitt Partners provides an assumption and then presents applicable implications.

Leavitt Partners developed the analysis under the consultation of the Leavitt Partners FuturePanel, a diverse group of health care thought leaders who have shaped and continue to guide the future of American health care (see list of members at the end of this release). The panel is not unanimous in their opinions. This diversity of thought is reflected in the Health Reform Bracketology findings, as well as survey data included in the analysis. The result is a very measured, pragmatic and balanced analysis of what the future could hold.

For example, under the Democrat gridlock scenario (Democrat in the White House and split Congress) the Health Reform Bracketology analysis expects the administration to move forward with health insurance market regulations that limit insurance underwriting, such as rate banding and community rating. Alternatively, if Republicans achieve a sweep and win the White House and a majority in Congress, then Republicans will look to replace guaranteed issue with high-risk pool development or other incentives for opting in to insurance coverage. These and dozens of other implications have been vetted and are presented in the analysis.

Leavitt Partners augments the analysis with an anonymous survey of industry leaders, congressional members and hill staffers, current and former administration officials and policy experts from differing ideological perspectives for their own predictions of the future. Called LP Health Watch, this “coach’s poll” adds valuable perspective to the scenarios.

You can view the full content on the Web at . The analysis and surveys will be updated monthly between now and the November election.

FuturePanel is an authoritative group of health care thought leaders who inform, refine and guide the health care intelligence shared by Leavitt Partners. FuturePanel members include former senior executives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, national leaders in health information technology, veterans of state-level health care policy, clinical experts and economic and legal professionals. Together, they provide Leavitt Partners with perspective and commentary from many of the people who have shaped and continue to guide the future of America’s health care system.

FuturePanel members include:

former Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary and FuturePanel chairperson former director of the Office of Insurance Exchanges, HHS former secretary of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services former acting general counsel for HHS former national coordinator for health information technology former acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) executive vice president and chief medical officer of the American Medical Association former deputy director for the Center for Strategic Planning and CMS past-president of the American Medical Association and LP chief medical officer former executive director of the National Governors Association former chief medical officer for CMS former chairman and CEO of Aetna Inc. former chief of staff for the Food and Drug Administration former assistant secretary for legislation, HHS

Health Reform Bracketology is a fun and instructive tool designed by Leavitt Partners that illustrates potential future scenarios in American health care. Referenced by media outlets such as andHealth Reform Bracketology is patterned after the bracketology craze that exists in sports. Leavitt Partners identifies various U.S. election scenarios, makes a series of assumptions and then presents the implications in simple and easy-to-understand terms. The scenarios are developed in consultation with the Leavitt Partners FuturePanel, a diverse group of health care thought leaders. In addition, surveys are circulated among health-industry thought leaders to gauge their perspective on potential outcomes. Learn more at .

Leavitt Partners is a health care intelligence business. Through its member-based collaboration called Health Intelligence Partners™ and direct services to clients, the consulting firm provides the best available window to the future of American health care. For more information visit or call (801) 538-5082.