Volume 2
April 27, 2022: As usual, there is a lot happening in healthcare. The information below can help you to become more informed about the latest trends and news that could affect your team, patients and even your health.
1. Coronavirus cases are on the rise
Following a decline in cases, coronavirus infections have spiked during the last two weeks, most significantly in the Northeast and Midwest. The rise in cases is attributed to the two novel subvariants evolving from the highly contagious BA.2 subvariant. However, the prevalence of hospitalizations and death rates continue to decline with an increase in the frequency of home tests.
So What’s The Big Deal? COVID is still with us. We will need to keep an eye on this subvariant and others to determine if hospitals will face similar strains as they have faced in the past.
2. CMS proposes $1.6B in increased hospital funds, but the funds are attached with strings. What does that mean for hospitals?
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a role for hospitals to promote health equity and maternal health outcomes. The rule includes the following healthy-equity measures.
3.2% rise in the rates of operating payments.
Assessment of hospital's commitment to delivering equitable healthcare services.
Screening and determining the social needs of patients related to health including food, housing, utilities, transportation, and safety.
Improvement of the maternal health outcomes by countering severe obstetric complications and C-section deliveries.
So What’s The Big Deal? Hospitals will need to continue to invest in tracking quality measures like readmissions data to see a rise in their payments. Hospitals receiving DISH funds could see declines in payments.
3. The emergence of Omicron BA.2.12.1
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a nationwide occurrence of omicron BA.2.12.1. The strain accounts for the recent rise in COVID cases in several states. Omicron BA.2.12.1 is more transmissible than the previous variant, BA.2, the severity of the disease is yet to be determined.
So What’s The Big Deal? Variants will continue to emerge and the severity of the variant could shift. Hospitals and the government should prepare for future variants with adequate PPE, medications, and logistical support.
4. Consumer-grade wearables for monitoring COVID-19 disease progression
COVID-19 infection is accompanied by physiologic alterations in the basal heart rate, circadian variation in the heart rate, and autocorrection of the heart rate. The symptomatic onset of COVID-19 is associated with increased heart rate and autocorrection of heart rate, followed by increased heart rate in response to activity such as cough. These variables are monitored using cost-efficient wearables.
So What’s The Big Deal? Healthcare consumerism, agency, and an interest in personal health are growing. Providers, patients, and payers will likely incorporate wearables into their daily lives to identify complications from long-COVID, acute infections, or other conditions.
5. Mask mandate is dropped but the confusion persists
The abrupt termination of the mask mandate for mass transit incited confusion among many. The court ruling was officially acknowledged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as it updated its website. While some American airports discontinued the mandate, others did not. The Biden administration has stated they would attempt to appeal the decision. The mask mandate is still applicable to public indoor settings and the public is encouraged to wear masks in public conveyances despite lifting the mask mandate.
So What’s The Big Deal? While the CDC only extended the mask mandate for a few weeks, the bigger concern for many public health officials is precedent. Should non-medically educated federal judge determine the validity of public health protective measures issued by the CDC? If this ruling stands, the precedent could create significant challenges to future public health measures and regulations.
6. Losing Medicaid coverage leaves millions of children vulnerable
The Medicaid continuous coverage protection provides healthcare safety, particularly to uninsured children in Georgia, Florida, and Texas. With the resolution of the COVID-19 public health emergency, children and adults tend to lose their Medicaid coverage. The solution is proposed by Congress, offering 12 months of continuous Medicaid coverage.
So What’s The Big Deal? In addition to the potential healthcare concerns for uninsured, a loss of insurance coverage for millions of Americans could cause a decline in revenues for providers.
7. Long-COVID continues to threaten the recovery of millions with prior COVID infections
Persistence of symptoms despite resolution of coronavirus infection tends to influence the cognitive and physiologic functions of the affected individuals. The rise in the number of coronavirus cases is proportional to the incidence of long COVID. This indicates the need for policies and adequate measures to contain the virus and reduce the onset of long COVID.
So What’s The Big Deal? Long-COVID could cause a large population of patients with chronic diseases. Hospitals and providers should prepare for potential work-force and resource implications.
8. Vaccines with Kids – When will the COVID-19 vaccine be released for kids?
The Pfizer CEO, Albert Bourla, says the COVID-19 vaccine for children is likely to be approved by June 2022. The variant-specific vaccine provides better protection against the Omicron variant. The vaccine aims to reduce the onset of coronavirus infections and long COVID.
So What’s The Big Deal? Children under the age of 5 will likely remain unvaccinated for the near future and into the summer. With a dropping of mask requirements and a rise in BA2 subvariants, young children are at growing an increase risk of disease.
9. Clinician Wellbeing – What can you do to help your team?
Among the many institutions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare systems are also subjected to the crisis. The 2022 Healthcare Workforce Rescue Package was developed to improve the well-being of healthcare practitioners and promote positive healthcare outcomes. The foundation elements of this package include the provision of mental health services, peer-support programs, and psychological training for healthcare leaders.
So What’s The Big Deal? Depression, burnout, and suicide are growing in the healthcare workforce. In additional to other structure changes needed, peer-support programs are an excellent way to improve the well-being of the healthcare workforce.
10. CDC Pandemic Forecasting Center
The Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA) employs data, analytics, and modeling to promote effective decision-making and the response to infection outbreaks. The CFA uses forecast models to determine the state and course of an infectious outbreak. The public health decision-makers use this information to formulate control measures to control the spread of the virus during the pandemic. The center will be based in D.C. and will have about 100 employees, who will work closely with U.S. health professionals to analyze data and provide the fastest and most scientifically accurate communication to the population. The primary goal is to provide effective communication that can positively influence government and individual citizen decisions.
So What’s The Big Deal? Information from the CFA could better predict and focus resource and mitigation efforts needs.
Thanks for reading this week’s Top 10 Big Deals in Healthcare and be sure to share with your network.
Dr. N. Adam Brown
Follow me on social:
Thanks for reading the Top 10 Big Deals in Healthcare and be sure to share with your network:
