Poll: Most Americans Worry Political Pressure Will Lead to Premature Approval of a COVID-19 Vaccine; Half Say They Would Not Get a Free Vaccine Approved Before Election Day September 10, 2020 News Release Republican and Independent Voters See the Economy as Their Top Issue; Coronavirus and Race Relations Top Democrats’ List Most Americans (62%) worry that the political pressure from the Trump administration will lead the Food and Drug Administration to rush to approve a coronavirus vaccine without making sure that it is…
Medicaid Managed Care Rates and Flexibilities: State Options to Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic September 9, 2020 Issue Brief This brief provides an overview of how Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) capitation rates are developed by states and approved by CMS, highlights options available to states to adjust current rates and/or risk sharing mechanisms, describes how MCOs pay providers, and outlines state options to direct MCO payments to providers in response to conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This Week in Coronavirus: August 28 to September 3 September 4, 2020 Blog During the 33rd week since the first coronavirus case appeared in the United States worldwide cases surpassed the 26 million mark and United States’ cases breached 6 million with over 186,000 deaths.
Medicare’s Finances Have Gotten Much Worse in Recent Years, Foreshadowing Tough Choices for November’s Winners September 3, 2020 Blog This policy watch post discusses the latest Medicare Hospital Insurance trust fund solvency projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which show the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt Medicare’s financial outlook, and foreshadow the tough choices facing the next President and Congress.
JAMA Forum: Trump vs Biden on Health Care September 3, 2020 Perspective In this September 2020 post for The JAMA Health Forum, Larry Levitt highlights differences in the records and policy plans of President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden on key health care issues.
COVID-19 Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Facilities Were Most Severe in the Early Months of the Pandemic, but Data Show Cases and Deaths in Such Facilities May Be On the Rise Again September 1, 2020 News Release The rate of new COVID-19 cases and deaths in long-term care facilities declined markedly in May and June after the novel coronavirus swept through nursing homes in April, but recent data show the incidence may be on the rise again, according to a new KFF analysis. A second new analysis…
Overlooked and Undercounted: The Growing Impact of COVID-19 on Assisted Living Facilities September 1, 2020 Issue Brief This analysis examines the impact of COVID-19 on assisted living facilities, including changes in cases and deaths between June and August 2020, using state-reported data on COVID-19. The analysis finds a significant increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths among residents and staff in assisted living facilities over this two-month period. Due to the incomplete nature of state reporting, these numbers are an undercount.
Key Questions About the Impact of Coronavirus on Long-Term Care Facilities Over Time September 1, 2020 Issue Brief This analysis provides insight into trends related to cases and deaths in long-term care facilities due to COVID-19. This piece provides state-level data on cumulative cases and deaths in long-term care facilities over time, trends of new LTC cases and deaths per week, and comparisons to national trends in cases and deaths.
Drew Altman: Pharmacies, Not the Military, Will Handle COVID-19 Vaccinations August 31, 2020 Perspective President Trump has conjured up the image of a top general and the military delivering the coronavirus vaccine drawing on their vast logistical experience. In his latest Axios column, Drew Altman explains why vaccine realities will dictate that it’s much more likely to be at your local Walgreens or CVS pharmacy.
State Actions to Sustain Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports During COVID-19 August 26, 2020 Issue Brief As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, states have taken a number of Medicaid policy actions to address the impact on seniors and people with disabilities, many of whom rely on long-term services and supports (LTSS) to meet daily needs and are at increased risk of adverse health outcomes if infected with coronavirus.
