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Supply Problem, PE Solution: The Rural Health Platform Play
Convert supply constraints into scale—MA roll-ups, tele-specialty networks, and mobile clinics where policy tailwinds meet unmet demand.
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Good morning, ! This week we’re diving into the US Rural Health Paradox, the legal framework in Europe’s telemedicine market, the US healthcare VC funding, and the main focus areas for medtech connected care solutions int he next few years.
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DATA DIVE
The Rural Health Paradox
Rural America isn’t just underserved—it’s structurally underinsured. New data show adults in large central metros and nonmetropolitan areas share the highest uninsured rates at 14%, but the red flag is children in nonmetropolitan communities: 6% uninsured, the worst of any group. That’s a future pipeline problem for access and outcomes.
Patient experience is steady but revealing. Rural Medicare Advantage members report the highest access satisfaction at 81.2%, versus 79.4% for urban Medicare FFS—tailwinds for managed care models that can coordinate dispersed networks.
Workforce is the choke point: 13 physicians per 10k in rural vs 31 urban; specialists 30 per 100k vs 263—a nearly 9x gap. That’s not demand—it’s supply.
Demographics amplify the case: 45% of rural residents are ages 18–54, 22% are under 18, and 19% are 65+. Expect rising Medicare and pediatrics demand alongside working‑age behavioral and chronic care needs.
Investor take: Rural markets reward scalable, tech‑enabled capacity—MA expansion, tele‑specialty networks, mobile clinics, and rural residency pipelines—where policy (telehealth parity, grants) and unmet need align.
TREND OF THE WEEK
Healthcare VC’s Vanishing Act
Call it a cardiac arrest for US healthcare VC fundraising. In the first half of 2025, only $3B has been raised — a collapse from $23B in 2024, and light-years away from 2021’s $41B high. With projections of just $9B for the year, this would mark the sector’s worst showing in over a decade.
Why the drought? Blame a volatile cocktail: LP caution, macroeconomic fog, and tightening research budgets. The result? Fewer term sheets and more startups stuck in the waiting room. Innovation isn’t dead — but it is under sedation. (More)
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MARKET MOVERS
Company (Ticker) | Last Price | 5D |
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) | $ 762.95 | -1.74% |
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) | $ 168.11 | 0.11% |
Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | $ 53.94 | -22.98% |
Roche Holding AG (ROG.SW) | $ 319.84 | -0.42% |
AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | $ 191.22 | 2.20% |
HEALTHTECH CORNER
The Interoperability Illusion
Medtech is bullish on connected care, but hospitals are stuck debugging the hype. While 84% of health care execs see clinical value, they say vendors aren’t solving the real problem: workflow friction and tight budgets. Instead, medtech fixates on EHR interoperability and data security, like it’s still 2012. Survey says: alignment gap. Providers want proof that these devices improve outcomes or reduce burnout—not another PDF buried in a dashboard. With the market projected to hit $190B by 2032, real traction will come from focusing on end-user value, streamlined integration, and joint data strategy. (More)
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DEAL OF THE WEEK
UnitedHealth Wins (After Giving Up 164 Sites)
UnitedHealth’s $3.3B acquisition of Amedisys just cleared its biggest regulatory hurdle — but only after agreeing to the largest outpatient divestiture ever to settle a merger challenge. The DOJ will allow the deal if UnitedHealth and Amedisys sell 164 home health and hospice sites across 19 states (worth ~$528M in revenue) to BrightSpring Health Services (115 sites) and Pennant Group (49 sites). Amedisys will also pay a $1.1M civil penalty for failing to fully comply with regulators during review. Once final court approval lands, UnitedHealth will expand into five new states and add almost 500 locations in markets where it already competes. The DOJ is keeping a monitor in place to oversee the divestiture, just in case. (More)
REGIONAL FOCUS
Europe’s Telemedicine Gap: Policy vs. Practice
Europe has the blueprint for telemedicine—what it lacks is a smooth build-out. The WHO Regional Survey 2022 shows near-universal policy recognition, yet everyday integration lags. Core issues include uneven reimbursement, legal grey zones, and digital literacy shortfalls among clinicians. Infrastructure gaps, especially in rural communities, block equitable access. Just 53% of countries have formal clinical guidelines, leaving quality and safety inconsistent. The WHO calls for value-based financing, national training strategies, and robust monitoring to turn pilot programs into permanent fixtures. Without coordinated action, the region risks a two-tier system: one where cities thrive digitally and everyone else waits for a connection. (More)
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