Frost & Sullivan Finds Early Intervention Technologies Core Components in Health Care Delivery

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (Dec. 19, 2013)—The major driver for early intervention technologies in the U.S. is a combination of legislative cost controls, emerging consumer demand for self-management and lower costs for technology delivery. General wellness technologies allow employers to enhance loyalty and engagement through affordable, non-cash incentives, as they place emphasis on proactive self-care and migrate to a mix of basic covered care and defined contribution structures that mimic company retirement plans. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan's US Market for General Wellness and Early Intervention Technologies research finds the general wellness technologies segment earned revenue of $3.87 billion in 2012 and estimates this to reach $5.12 billion in 2017. The early intervention technologies segment earned revenue of $2.10 billion in 2012 and is likely to reach $2.63 billion in 2017. Early intervention programs include patient experience through programs, care coordination and patient safety, preventive health and caring for at-risk populations. "Early intervention tools can provide sufficient gap coverage for at-risk employees, especially as cost pressures lead to the introduction of a more a la carte employer benefits portfolio based on individual employee coverage needs," said Frost & Sullivan Connected Health Global Research Director Daniel Ruppar. "Wellness programs, on the other hand, offer a middle ground that satisfies employer outreach campaigns while they migrate to more flexible individual coverage benefits that limit out-of-pocket exposure." However, it has been established that wellness programs enhance employee satisfaction, and technology-focused providers can utilize this awareness to efficiently penetrate the market in the country. As care-cost controls become prevalent through factors such as the Affordable Care Act-driven managed care market and the overall liability shifts from care provider to consumer self-care, intervention and wellness solution providers must come together to offer lower bundled service rates. "From a product development standpoint, technologies for both early intervention and general wellness are starting to overlap," concluded Ruppar. "For instance, integration with health reimbursement account analytics and predictive tools will help determine the likelihood of disease and enable the design of general lifestyle modification campaigns for easily preventable illnesses like diabetes."