The COVID-19 pandemic may have lasting implications on the US health care ecosystem, according to recent guidance from BTIG.

Health care REITs with exposure to the senior housing sector saw a greater impact from COVID-19 last year, though stability is expected this year as the virus begins to dissipate and more people are vaccinated.  The report also notes that the virus has illuminated both disparities in access to healthcare generally and the below-average health of the US population as a whole.  The resulting stress on America's healthcare infrastructure could have an impact on policy making post-pandemic, and BTIS predicts it could push the US closer to a single-payer system.

How consumers interact with health care facilities is also likely to continue to evolve: telemedicine continues to advance as a technology and is ranked first among insurer priorities, BTIS analyst David Larsen said in a recent report. And advancements in telehealth and remote monitoring should also continue the time during which seniors can safely live at home.