It seems that with each day comes a new wave of health carerelated news, and the biggest recent story involves Amazon. We knowthey sell everything from gardening supplies to diet gummy bears,but can we really expect prescription drugs to be delivered next?While it may be too soon to expect free two-day shipping on yourmedicine, there's no doubt that Amazon's recent $1 billion purchase of the onlinepharmacy, PillPack, signals a significant shift in the healthcare industry. It's more important than ever to stay educated aboutall health care matters.

In a highly regulated industry where failure to comply with anew state and federal laws can mean hefty fines, we should expectthe upcoming years to remain tumultuous. In 2017, America'stotal medical costs hit a new record of $3.4trillion, due in part to our health care system and the currenteconomic climate. These facts highlight that health care is alwayschanging and that it is essential that brokers, employers andindividuals stay up to date. But the question is, how do you doso?

Reading the right news

In our 24-hour news cycle, we are bombarded with a ton ofcontent and news stories, so we need to decide what's worthremembering—or not. Whether it's a magazine or an old fashionednewspaper, finding yourself an unbiased news source is animportant first step. When a new regulation is introduced that youdisagree with, failure to comply won't stop a government entityfrom issuing a fine.

For example, individuals who got too excited aboutthe removal of the Affordable Care Act penalty anddecided to immediately drop their insurance were in for a badsurprise, as the new reform doesn't actually start until 2020. Thisis a clear example of what can occur when you don't read thoroughlyand the consequences that can follow.

Using social media

The advantage that social media has over traditional newssources is the ability to post breaking news as its happening.Every news source should have a Facebook or Twitter presence. Ifscrolling through your newsfeed and watching cute dog videos isalready a part of your daily routine, following reputable newssites will aggregate all that info for you in one place (and inserta few cute corgis along the way, too).

Related: 5 easy-to-implement social media strategies forbusy brokers

Social media sites are a perfect example of how an individualcan stay well informed. The breaking news about that new healthcare mandate you saw on Twitter will then be turned into a fulllength article. When used in conjunction with those types ofarticles, social media paints a much clearer picture of what newlaw or reform just occurred versus making assumptions from aheadline. The downside to social media is that you're more likelyto run across sensationalized posts with edgy headlines.

Daily newsletters

Newsletters areanother great way to stay informed about events and happeningswithin a specific industry without being too disruptive. Sign upvia email and read while you sip your coffee or during your dailycommute — unless you're driving of course.

Most daily newsletters are also written in a style that providesyou with short bursts of condensed information. When you don't havetime to read a five-page article, a two-paragraph newsletter blurbcan still give you a sufficient amount of information.

Health care is complex; that's a given. But staying educated andfinding a partner thatspecializes in health care compliance, legislation and regulationis the best way to ensure you and your partners are never left inthe dark.