Consumer Driven Health Care

The conference was packed with insights that I've boiled down to a list of my four big takeaways.

A new report warns that we could very well be at the cusp of a return to a more typical pattern where increases in health-care prices outpace the broader inflation rate.

Most carriers in the workplace benefits space are looking to establish relationships with new brokers. While they have compelling reasons for leaning on their tenured advisors (especially those generating significant production), they need to find future revenue sources in order to ensure long-term success.

CVS's already costly deal looks even more expensive after its warning on Thursday of a possible profit decline this year, despite an expected $1.2 billion benefit from tax cuts. CVS shares fell though it reported positive quarterly results.

For care providers and other companies all along the pharmaceutical supply chain, this year's flu season has led to higher revenue from increasing hospital visits and drug sales.

The board of outside health care experts tasked with advising Medicare on how to cut costs was eliminated as part of the $541 billion budget deal passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump on Friday.