By HFT Staff

Although they comprise only 30 percent of the U.S. population, the over 55year old populace is the biggest consumer of U.S. healthcare services, and the over 80year old cohort is forecasted to balloon nearly 50 percent in the next 10 years. The growth of the elder population in the U.S., longer life expectancies and better healthcare delivery are all fueling demand for outpatient healthcare services and facilities, reinforcing medical office as one of the most stable asset classes. 

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, healthcare as a share of U.S. GDP was 19.7 percent in 2020, along with healthcare expenditures, it is predicted to account for 30 percent of GDP by 2030. Outpatient demand for ages 55 and older alone is forecast to grow 16.9 percent by 2025, a rate that is 4.3 percent higher than the general population.  

JLL’s most recent Healthcare and Medical Office Perspective details how outpatient sites dominate healthcare services delivery compared to hospital admissions.According to Kaufman Hall, outpatient revenue rose eight percent in 2022, while inpatient revenue was flat when compared to 2021.   

Additionally, up to a third of hospital revenue is activity shifting to ambulatory surgery centers, office-based labs and other ambulatory sites, while inpatient discharges continue to decline due to regulatory changes, competition among healthcare systems in high-growth markets and technological innovation fueling a shift to outpatient settings.  

Medical offices and clinics are expected to receive the biggest share of growth. Advisory Board estimates the medical office segment will welcome more than 585 million patient visits in 2025 and more than 635 million visits by 2030.