6. Accelerated growth due to private equity

Last but not least is private equity's effect on the sector. With private equity firms increasingly investing in health care, more diversified holdings can provide opportunities for traditional health care companies to sell all or portions of non-core assets and double down on their core competencies—or to look to partnerships that can complement their own strategies and goals.

"Private equity investment in health care isn't going to single-handedly improve care quality, enhance the patient experience or reduce healthcare costs to consumers," PwC notes. "But it likely is fueling the efforts already in place."

Want to learn about six trends that will have an impact on the health care industry in the year to come? Just click.

1. Digital therapeutics and connected care

Technology will unite segments of the field that used to operate independently. Among the changes that will come, says PcW, are new digital therapies and connected health services aimed at helping patients make behavioral changes. In addition, tools can give providers real-time insights, as well as allow insurers and employers new tools to more effectively manage employees' health.

"New health data streams coming in from patients' devices and mobile phones may disrupt provider practices even as they help improve care delivery," says PwC. "Successfully integrating new patient data into physician practices may improve in-person visits, making health discussions more efficient and informed by real-world patient behaviors."

2. The continuing influence of the Affordable Care Act

The report points out has been changed by "legislative, regulatory, budgetary and legal actions" but nonetheless remains a major force on health care. The rise of short-term, limited duration insurance and association health plans will find expanded markets under previous Republican actions, and financial services companies, makers of non-retail medical devices and employers offering high-cost insurance plans could all benefit.

Consumers, not so much, especially the middle class looking for comprehensive coverage on the exchanges and providers and payers in conservative-leaning states that are dependent on patients covered by Medicaid or ACA plans.

For providers and payers, PwC recommends: "Develop plans for triaging patients and members to lower-cost care options, including telehealth or in-home nurse visits," and "Pair patients with the most appropriate clinician to address patients' immediate health issues. This could mean scheduling them with a nurse, dietitian, mental health specialist or social worker instead of a higher cost physician."

3. Upskilled health care workers

Health care companies are going to be upskilling and reskilling their workers as they seek to fill positions for which specialized technological knowledge is required. AI, robotic process automation and other such elements will compel workers to up their game as health care companies incorporate telehealth and other tech-fueled trends.

PwC offers this tip for all employers: " Consider your company's immediate needs and which employees might benefit most, such as leadership and key staff who can spread knowledge to others. For example, Nokia Corp. has said that it will train all its employees on the basics of machine learning, while a pool of experts will consider ways to implement the technology more broadly. Identifying those employees can yield rapid benefits for a business."

4. Tax reform

Tax reform will affect portions of the health care industry in different ways, too. Non-profit facilities may face greater tax liabilities, while new rules on unrelated business taxable income will complicate filings for payers and providers alike. Changes in tax rates and refunds will also affect a company's medical loss ratio and open new opportunities for investing.

Says the PwC report: "Companies must come to terms with a simple fact: The old way of doing business no longer may be the most effective or efficient way under the new code. The changes may require new supply chains, business unit reorganizations, benefit redesigns for executives and staff, investments in technology, and staff training. Operational agility will permit companies to act quickly when necessary, but that will require planning and creativity."

5. Scaling services to all populations

Providing care to the un- and underinsured while still making a profit will be one of the challenges for health care companies that, unlike other businesses, lack a "value line" of products or services. If they fail, they'll end up losing a sizeable share of the market that's being driven out by high deductibles and copays that cause many to simply skip care because of cost.

Says PwC, "Providers that understand the consumer segments they want to serve can design an operating model for the future—perhaps as 'integrators' serving a payer mix and consumer base that are both diverse, or as 'health managers' targeting the frail elderly, complex chronic, chronic and mental health consumer segments."

6. Accelerated growth due to private equity

Last but not least is private equity's effect on the sector. With private equity firms increasingly investing in health care, more diversified holdings can provide opportunities for traditional health care companies to sell all or portions of non-core assets and double down on their core competencies—or to look to partnerships that can complement their own strategies and goals.

"Private equity investment in health care isn't going to single-handedly improve care quality, enhance the patient experience or reduce healthcare costs to consumers," PwC notes. "But it likely is fueling the efforts already in place."