I had an unnerving conversation the other day.

I was catching up with a friend from outside the healthcare industry who I had not seen in a long time.  'How's business going?' he asked. 

It was good to report that unlike 2010, when economic and policy uncertainty ruled and there were more conversations than actual decisions, 2011 was off to a good start and the healthcare market was trying to find its legs.  Organizations were making decisions, always a good thing for business.

'So,' he asked, 'at what point does the 2012 election cycle bring the uncertainty back, especially for people in healthcare, and cause buyers to again put off decisions until they have more clarity about the rules for the future?'

I thought for a minute and then slapped him.  That was not nice.  Q1 2011 just ended.  Can't we at least have a little while where the market takes action?

Then you see the headlines about Obama fundraising and the first Republican presidential debate and you want to scream.  'Already?'

It is a fair consideration, especially when so much activity is driven by some combination of HIT stimulus dollars and coming ACO-esque reimbursement models, all of which can change based on a certain day in November, a year and a half hence.

As the GIs would say, 'Smoke 'em if you got 'em.'