Looking for bargains as health care's prognosis improves

摘要

After Two Years Of bad news―big drugs coming off patent, hospital companies caught up in billing and securities fraud scandals―2004 should bring some relief for the health-care sector. More new drugs are in line for approval. A stronger economy will help hospitals collect from patients as well as encourage more elective procedures. And the newly passed Medicare bill is expected to increase demand, not just for drugs but also for medical services as reimbursement levels rise. "Physicians are more likely to prescribe procedures, and hospitals might be more willing to perform them if they know they won't lose money on them," says Morningstar Inc. analyst Jill Kiersky.