Decades of price escalation combined with eroding quality and misused technologies have made U.S. healthcare the "most expensive and least effective" system in the developed world. By themselves, these protracted healthcare issues are manageable and might have been tackled over time, using familiar fixes. However, that was before a trio of "mega forces" arrived that now threaten to create healthcare’s version of the perfect storm.
The Attorney General's Office is not alone in voicing concerns this month with Frisbie Memorial Hospital's plans to close its labor and delivery services due to cost.
Gone are the days when a sick person would consult a physician, or at least telehealth, before heading for the ER. Now they are more likely to check news outlets to see if the ER is among those that have announced temporary closures.
The strongest long-term opportunity for healthcare companies primarily falls in three industries: drug manufacturing, medical devices, and diagnostics and research. And nearly all of the best healthcare companies to invest in—19 of the 20 companies on our list—have intangible assets that provide a wide moat against competitors.