Most health industry players would win under overhaul

[steven johnson]

It turns out that the major healthcare industry players will do just fine with the proposed new reforms they were involved in crafting -- hospitals, insurers, drug companies, doctors, nursing homes -- will all be protected to some extent with the changes.

WASHINGTON — When Congress and the White House began talking about a health care overhaul, the industries that profit from the $2.5 trillion system were understandably nervous.

But as the legislation takes shape, it appears much of the anxiety was misplaced. Most of the major health care players, including hospitals, health insurers and pharmaceutical companies, are likely to benefit - some handsomely - over the long term.

The hospitals did quite well for themselves," said Sheryl Skolnick, a hospital analyst with CRT Capital Group in Stamford, Conn.

A proposed individual health insurance mandate has strong House and Senate support. The mandate along with subsidies to help low-income Americans pay for coverage, could bring insurers tens of millions of new customers.

Most health industry players would win under overhaul