Another wave of change is coming to the healthcare industry — and it could land at your front door.
Big retailers like CVS and Walmart are looking for a foothold in the industry, while existing companies move to consolidate, said Chas Roades, co-founder and CEO of Gist Healthcare in Washington D.C.
One harbinger of change is the proliferation of free-standing emergency rooms, as hospitals look to provide convenience for consumers, expand their market share and gain a competitive edge.
The ERs, though, are not without controversy. Consumers often confuse them with less-costly urgent care centers, and then get surprised by high bills. A new law will soon require the emergency facilities to tell consumers much more about what they do and what it costs.
